“Work in Progress” is a work created by Evelyn Bencicova and Enes Güç, originally for Barbara Thumm Gallery: New Viewings curated by Philipp Bollmann.
We live in a time of constructed selves. The era of blown-out desires and heavy-weight duty to represent, exhibit, and conform to what is expected. One is inclined to think of Mary Shelley, whose novel character Victor Frankenstein created an artificial human being 200 years ago - in a time of great upheaval and discovery. Today we find ourselves once again at a turning point in society and technology, which makes us question ourselves as well as the platforms on which we construct ourselves. The construct of the self takes the form of a man-made scaffolding, which both supports and limits us. It holds and imprisons the person in what is projected for the outside- a constant, omnipresent audience that we both feed and identify with (and often even feed on).
The presentation for the sake of external perception has advanced to a mania that was only enabled by the possibilities of the digital media. We use our extended abilities to make ourselves appear different, often larger than we presumably are. The oversize of the figure is a testament to this. In the current state of publicity, social media, and “artist persona” the pressure feels immense and walls are getting higher, and thicker. For many, it becomes questionable if what is hidden inside still matters. It is rendered literally invisible, even non-existent, under multiple, “we call it protective”, outside layers.
What does it take to build someone’s own image? To manufacture the narrative that can fit in pre-existent space, to take up that space, or overgrow it? Does the scale change one's perspective or way of looking? In a space full of forms there is still plenty of room for interpretations. In the end, it is, we are - work in progress. How do we construct the reality we place our-self(s) in?
selected presentation:
2021: MERROR: Fotografiska Tallin
