Current Research

Metacrisis: Trauma and Transformation

My research explores the relationship between trauma, transformation, and the concept of the metacrisis—a contemporary convergence of existential threats as defined by philosopher Daniel Schmachtenberger. My enquiry responds to the profound psychological, social, and existential challenges of the metacrisis by examining how art may help navigate and address them.

The metacrisis is a vast subject; consequently, my research encompasses various strands, including understanding the impact of exponential digital technology on human relationships and its contribution to the current mental health and meaning crisis. I am examining how art may help process trauma, leading to transformation that facilitates improved emotional and social connections.

Theoretical Framework

My research is grounded in psychoanalytical theory, mainly influenced by Carl Jung's concepts of archetypes, the collective unconscious, and individuation. Jung's theories provide a foundation for understanding the symbolic imagery in my art.

The vast and labyrinthine nature of the metacrisis has led me to research complexity theory to clarify how various crises interrelate and impact one another.

Incorporating complexity and fluidity into my practice, and my emotional response to the metacrisis that oscillates between hope, despair, engagement, and detachment, reflect a metamodern sensibility. Vermeulen and Van den Akker describe metamodernism as echoing a revival of neo-romanticism, representing the creation of new mythologies and narratives that align with my ideology.

Creative Practice

My creative practice is introspective, examining the transformation of the Self and the collective through individuation. It has developed into a recursive process where I revisit and reinterpret previous works, layering and interweaving images and meanings. Inspired by complexity theory and metamodernism, this process also reflects the theories of Deleuze and Guattari, specifically their concepts of deterritorialisation and reterritorialisation.

My work challenges the boundaries of traditional painting by combining analogue and digital media. I extend my painting practice into immersive experiences that transition between two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and virtual worlds.

Engaging with themes of the sublime, the uncanny, and altered states of consciousness, I aim to evoke intense, emotionally charged experiences that challenge perceptions and provoke introspection. I am exploring the relationship between Kant's notion of the sublime, which reveals an indeterminate reality, Freud's concept of the uncanny, and Lacan's the Real, which is associated with trauma. Through an exploration of my emotional response to trauma, I aim to gain insight into the complex psychological and social dimensions of the mental health and meaning crisis.

Summary

Art engagement facilitates the processing of trauma, which encourages individual and collective individuation. I am exploring the potential of art to help navigate the complexities of the metacrisis by fostering transformation through the integration of psychoanalytical theory and metamodern cultural paradigms. I aim to create works that evoke deep emotional responses and challenge established beliefs through symbolic imagery and immersive experiences. Through this process, I hope to contribute to a new metanarrative that harnesses the transformative potential of art to promote individuation, deeper connection, and collaboration among individuals.

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