Project "Defence mechanisms". Manifesto. Masks. Painting. Performance.

Manifesto

A human is born free.

A child is not burdened by painful masks imposed by society.

The child rejoices and grieves boldly and sincerely, absorbing the world around him without fear.

The mother and father generously give the child these fears, this way putting the first mask on his face. They fortify it layer by layer, those adult educators, creating bizarre forms of the shell.

What will they create, those who are so blind and deaf in their masks, created on the conveyor belt of life experience. Will it be a punishment or a gift from fate.

Child, what's on your face, a tough shell or a fragile glass?

Child, do you breathe deep, do you recognise yourself in this mask?

Has it become a harmonious part of you or has it broken you?

Has it made you stronger or beheaded you?

Child, stop for a second, look in the mirror of life, what do you see in the reflection, do you recognise your spontaneity, do you see your courage?

This project is about a connection between art and psychology. The main topic of my research was defensive mechanisms of the psyche. I interpreted them through masks, as everyone wears such a mask on their faces. These masks hide a gentle brave being from the world, a child that lives inside each of us. With the help this project I am screaming. I am either calling to the child inside the viewer, or trying to reach myself through screaming.

The papier-mâché mask technique reinforces my idea that these masks are multi-layered and are created during a long, painstaking, lifelong process. It's a technique I learned as a child, and while working on the masks I keep coming back to the child inside me again.

The painting "Bassinet" as part of my project. What is this mask? Is it a protective shell or a constraining armor? Does it bring harmony or does it immobilize, preventing one from living life to the fullest? Is this mask a cradle for the adult, where he or she protects the inner child?

Description and idea of performance.

I tried to show my idea of the performance through a video, and I am trying to carry the idea of layering throughout my whole project.

I imagine the performance as follows. Me being part of my own exhibition, of my paintings and masks, I ask the viewer to create a mask on my face by gluing a piece of paper to it. I challenge the viewer to consciously break the boundaries of the adult stranger. Here I am not calling to the child within the viewer, here I am calling to the adult sculptor. Adult, are you a skilled sculptor?..