The phenomenon of being embodied, in relation to environment and to others, is a state in which I explore, and engage the uncomfortable position of feeling a lack of presence. Our bodies are inescapably part of our identity, it’s through representing the body and through abstraction that I explore a relationship, and personal experiences, thus figuration and abstraction are necessary. The physicality, the materiality of paint, is in itself an environment in which my body and sense of being exists. The act of painting mirrors an inner landscape. The work questions identity, and the fluidness, valuable or constructed aspects of identity. The work shows fragments of experience and fragments of self. Themes included are human connectedness and attachment, unmasking the self, exploring versions of the self, challenging perceptions, and alienation.

While attending the “Luminous Bodies” Residency, I plan to develop a series of drawings based on the human form, exploring non-traditional notions of the body relating to six archetypal patterns, which are inspired by Carol Pearson’s book “The Hero Within.” The project will result in six drawings, each one referencing one of the six archetypes. The six large (averaging 6 x 3 feet) works on paper will be executed using water-based materials such as water-soluble graphite, ink and watercolour paints. The drawings will visually explore and depict concepts shared by discussions with Luminous Bodies artists and from stories of connection to these archetypal belief systems.

~~~

Alice MacLean is a visual artist from Nova Scotia, Canada. She completed her BFA at NSCAD University in 2012, concentrating on painting and drawing. Alice also studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in 2011. Alice’s work is evocative of the human form and lived experiences. She continues to study the figure from life and re-imagine experiences into visual media. Her work explores archetypal concepts, carrying both representational and abstract aspects. She has exhibited her work in Canada and internationally. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University, informing her understanding of the biological world.