3. Identity and The Self

For our second collaborative project, we explored the theories concerned with the ‘self’ and the projection of social norms onto identity constructs. These concepts are supported by Jim Rohn’s theory on the law of averages in which he states “you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. We were also inspired by the principal argument of nature/nurture in psychology as coined by Francis Galton. Finally, Freud’s theory of ID/Ego separation was also important in furthering the group’s investigation as it provided explanations for the construction of the mind’s conscious and its relation to identity. The project stems from a group interest in these theories.

As a group, we focused specifically on identity and the multiple identities people portray in their everyday lives, from a private self to a public self, exploring how they can express this in visual language. The exhibition itself explored the liminal space between ‘the self’ and ‘the other’ through the incorporation of mirrors within the grid of portraits inviting the viewer to explore their own identity.

The project took place through multiple stages.

1. The process commenced with continuous line drawings of each of the members of the group.

2. These drawings were then reproduced through photocopying. They were then enlarged, reduced and corrupted in different ways, for example reassembling and rearranging ripped up pieces.

3. Using small A5 boards, each member of the group created work that incorporated these fragmented and disrupted portraits with different materials.

4. Working separately each member of the group created portraits of the other members, using their own unique visual language.

5. These were then circulated with other members of the group and re-worked until each portrait had received intervention from every participant in the group.

6. The area for exhibition was then painted a bright blue colour with warm, illustrative frames painted around some of the portraits in a similar style to Lauren Child’s illustrations to introduce a childlike and nostalgic element to our work.

As a result the work becomes a compiled portrait of all three group members.