I am intrigued by the inner mind and how our inner world affects our interpretation of the outer world; for me the inner mind is a place of alchemy where experiences, thoughts, reasoning, emotions, and knowledge melt together to create our uniqueness.
My foray into the inner mind, the conscious and unconscious self, begins for me, with the head - it is where I place the inner mind and where I feel it belongs. Hence I use the head as a vehicle for exploring issues surrounding our uniqueness and individuality, from the private reality that exists within each of us to the public face on show for everyone.
I am also interested in the way our experiences shape our way of thinking and dealing with ourselves and the world around us. I use the figure to express qualities of character that derive from our experiences and our ways of seeing the world. Inevitably I draw upon personal experiences which have shaped my own unique view of the world. For example the 'Survival Series' explores how experiences of tragedy, illness, weakness can undermine our self and leave us feeling less than whole, and yet the remaining self can still demand attention and achieve an unique inner beauty, strength and understanding.
My intention is not to dictate but to provide a tool for introspection and deliberation and for us to become more aware of our inner realities and our responses to experiences and the world around us.
Shivashtie Poonwassie
January 2008