IB DP Visual Arts Exhibition: In/Humanity
In/HUMANITY showcases a group of multidisciplinary artists who investigate the complex interplay between external influences and internal identity formation in the contemporary world. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing technological landscape, where the rise of algorithms and human-coded artificial intelligence is transforming the way we understand ourselves, the artists in this exhibition offer a critical commentary on the impact of these developments - present and future - on our sense of self and our relationship with the world around us.
Through their use of diverse media, such as painting, sculpture, photography, and multimedia installations, the artists in In/HUMANITY invite viewers to engage in a contemplative journey of self-reflection, questioning the societal pressures and commercialized rhetoric that influence our choices and shape our sense of society and self. They explore the ways in which external forces can lead to feelings of alienation and disconnection, and how this may be amplified by the increasing prevalence of technological determinism in our daily lives. Through their thought-provoking works, the artists challenge us to seek a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between internal and external influences in the contemporary world, and to contemplate our place within this evolving landscape.
Ultimately, In/HUMANITY invites us to embark on a journey of self-discovery and introspection, one that leads us towards a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Through this exhibition, we are prompted to confront the inhumanity of our current cultural landscape and to engage in positively shaping the future of our collective existence.
text generated by ChatGPT, prompted and edited by Kyle Ford
About the Artists
Pulling from the lexicon of art history, Jay uses paragons of femininity, like Venus, as a reference point to dissect identity, gender roles and expectations in a perfection driven world. This manifests in the photographic retellings of classic iconic pieces like The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Picasso, and Sleeping Venus by Giorgione and Titian. Recontextualized in the mind of a contemporary teenage girl, Jay’s staged approach to artmaking results in works that are meticulously considered and performative as she investigates the construction and subsequent destruction of identity and self. Jay invites the viewer to question what informs our development of self and self worth as her teenage heroine slowly unravels before us in an unsettling display of conformity.
Throughout Selevan’s colorful work, allusions to science fiction lore drive narrative arcs through to a dystopic end. Selevan’s collection of large scale photographs and paintings come together to illustrate a world where humanity’s spark slowly erodes away as they voluntarily offer up literal pieces of themselves to a false god. Selevan’s graphic and staged works draw on the sci-fi nostalgia of a time gone by to explore the age-old question of what will come of humanity. He poses open ended questions of identity, self, and the need for basic human traits like empathy and care. Through his work he asks the viewer to look into themselves and question how can we hold onto what makes us sentient, human?
In Tong’s sculptural and graphite pieces, metamorphosis takes center stage. As the work alternates between large scale and intimate drawings, Tong ruminates on concepts of social anxiety, fragility and acceptance. Each piece builds upon the aesthetic leitmotif of a cocoon, symbolic of confinement and rebirth. Tong’s work is a cathartic process of self-acceptance in an overly result-focused existence. She generously opens her mind to the viewers, taking them on a Freudian journey of introspection and resolution through an array of dreamlike scenarios.
In/HUMANITY Programme
