Jessica

In this painting, reality and imagined space are blurred, creating tension as the girl stands in a surreal dawn, reflecting her inner emotional world of healing. Surrounded by dreamlike creatures that embody mystery, the open door leads into reality, inviting viewers to consider how the mind constructs dreamlike refuges when processing emotions. This piece emphasises dawn as a psychological space of healing, encouraging the audience to find a balance between their inner world and the external reality.

This artwork explores healing, liminality, and self-exploration through a surreal forest where fragmented identities coexist. The spectral figures, some merging and others isolated, reflect a psychological space of transformation. The piece confronts the fragmented self, offering introspection and the possibility of healing through recognition.

In this work I focus on the time of dawn, where I find inner peace, now shared with others for comfort. As the brain transitions from night-time theta waves to morning alpha waves, we enter a state conducive to self-reflection, making dawn a “gateway” for emotional processing. The surreal nature of the scene blurs reality and imagery, activating the brain's default mode network, and facilitating emotional processing. As a result, entering this space offers viewers a restorative experience. We cannot distinguish between what is internal and what is an external influence.

The twilight forest symbolises the brain’s delicate processes, intertwining memory and sensory experiences. The viewer stands at the edge of this space, with butterflies and figures representing emerging ideas from the subconscious. As dawn approaches, alpha brain waves create heightened reflection, symbolised by the surreal figures. The forest parallels a neural network, where data points are processed and forgotten, inviting contemplation of the insights that arise in moments of wakefulness.

In ‘Invitation’, I construct a liminal space where individuals gather in a shared atmosphere of self-exploration. The setting bridges reality and imagination, forming a sanctuary where the external world dissolves, and personal connections take precedence. The indigo sky, reminiscent of the hours of twilight, symbolises a shift between states of consciousness. By stepping into this space, the audience is welcomed into a realm of connection and quiet contemplation.

Unlike the impression that rhinoceroses will be gentle, rhinoceroses are aggressive. I used this characteristic to express my "dawn" by putting myself in the painting riding a rhinoceros. In the past, Rhinoceros were called chariots because they were resilient against bullets due to their thick leather, which is why people used the skin of rhinoceroses to make armour. Here, rhinos symbolise a chariot that takes me to "dawn," and protects me from reality.

This piece intricately reflects your psychology and inner mind, blending personal exploration with an invitation for collective recovery. The central tree, surrounded by beds and a dining table, represents your inner growth, standing as a stable anchor within the complexity of the space. The woman facing the scene suggests contemplation, as though standing on the threshold of a new mental and emotional experience.

This painting captures the liminal moment between night and dawn, where reality dissolves into a fluid, dreamlike space. The ethereal trees and their reflections blur the boundary between sky and water, evoking a state of transition and renewal. Light seeps through the atmosphere, symbolising healing and self-discovery. This surreal landscape invites viewers into a suspended time, where the mind drifts between memory and awakening, offering solace in the quiet emergence of a new day.

This painting captures a quiet, liminal space where presence and absence coexist. The warm interior contrasts with the structured, geometric exterior, evoking a sense of separation from time. The lone paper bag serves as a silent remnant of human presence, hinting a movement beyond the frame. Light and shadow create a transient atmosphere, reinforcing the ephemeral nature of the moment. This piece continues my exploration of spatialised time, memory, and the emotional resonance of stillness.

This work symbolizes the mind through a house, representing the balance between personal mental spaces and shared experiences. Initially a solitary sanctuary for introspection, the house evolves into a bench, inviting others into a realm of empathy and collective healing. This transformation reflects neuroaesthetics, where art fosters emotional connections. The embedded media art adds complexity, highlighting the contrast between structured cognition and dynamic consciousness.