PERSONA & IMAGO
The Exhibition took place at Gallery cafe (ANAV) in Bucharest, on 4th of May 2015.
The PERSONA is formed between the ages of six and twelve; it is the mask we wear. Today, we live in a society where the "excess of persona" is more important and promoted than ever before. People are encouraged to become identical with their masks, as this creates a society of empty and conformist individuals.
Many of us reach a state of mind where we stop reflecting, dreaming and being aware of our differences from the world we inhabit.
While it is true that we are special because, by default, no one else exactly like us will ever exist; we are our own unique product, this puts us in an interesting and complicated position.
We are torn between our own abilities to evolve, our own being and creating things which reflect our souls and conforming to the system. We are, in fact, our own brand, which is why identity is crucial and why shallow identities thrive in our world.
To overcome this, instead of having a negative view of ourselves and living passively, we should invest as much as possible in our growth and development. To further emphasize the importance of identity and give it a personal touch, I believe that equilibrium is achieved by finding a balance between persona and imago. Therefore, we should construct a persona that represents our true selves, our imago.
That is how you obtain a well-defined identity, one that contributes to the creation of your "complete" self. We live in a world of copy and paste, where we often rely on others to define us without realizing the delicate line between relating to something and letting it define you. These are two distinct things. We desperately want to prove our uniqueness and importance, but we often forget that only by carefully choosing what defines us, asking questions and reflecting on a deeper level, we can customize our outer self to suit our true one and its needs.
This process helps us realize that we don't need to prove anything to anyone because when we encounter something truly new and impactful, we immediately notice it. We are surprised, fascinated, or perhaps even disgusted. It captures our attention naturally, not because it seeks attention. Remember, you are the most valuable thing you truly have. Make yourself worthy for your own sake! If you don't find worth in yourself, others won't either. This leads to a profound sense of loneliness, even more profound than the one we already experience. We must stop investing in seeking attention, commercialism, cheap imitations or exorbitantly expensive facades.
Overall, the concept of this project aims to express the idea of embracing one's unique identity, questioning societal norms of conformity and advocating for personal growth and authenticity. This message wants to encourage viewers to define themselves on their own terms and avoid seeking validation from external sources when it doesn’t enlighten.
Imago (Imago Dei), in short, speaks about the self. The self is not merely a fixed entity or a constant form, but primarily a dynamic process. The ancients perceived imago as an active force and this concept aligns perfectly with the symbols of transformation and the restoration of the original state of wholeness, as represented by the ouroboros in alchemy.
It is crucial that we shift our focus and invest in sharing, exposing, embracing the unconventional, valuing the priceless, embracing the natural and cherishing the original. Only through these actions can we foster creation and evolution, expand people's perspectives and bring about meaningful change. In this context, identity plays a vital role as it speaks in a relatable manner to everyone.
Currently, we find ourselves trapped in a vicious existential cycle. However, I assume that the majority of us desire to break free from it. If you are among those individuals and are unsure where to begin, start with your identity. Create an identity that truly belongs to you, one that reflects your true self.
