Approach

My interest lies in exploring the realms of the human psyche with specific interest in the unconscious encoding of the human mind. This body of work is the result of an ongoing investigation into the primitive unconscious, which Carl Jung identifies as “the Shadow”. A reoccurring theme, which is of both personal and academic interest. The work is an intersection of a number areas of interest, sci-fi films, psychology and photography.

In this series I specifically investigate Jung’s archetype “the Shadow”, a reference to an unconscious aspect of the personality, which the conscious ego does not identify. Jung stated the shadow to be the unknown dark side of the personality. Jung says: “We tend to reject or remain ignorant of the least desirable aspects of one’s personality, the shadow is largely negative, or the entirety of the unconscious, i.e. everything of which a person is not fully conscious. To know oneself, one must accept one’s dark side.” 

According to Jung, the shadow, being instinctive and irrational, is prone to psychological projection. Jung writes that if these projections remain hidden these projections insulate and harm individuals by acting as a constantly thickening veil of illusion between the ego and the real world. Jung also believed that “in spite of its function as a reservoir for human darkness—it was also the seat of creativity”.

I’ve always been captivated by Science Fiction films. It’s something that I geek out on, both on a cognitive and emotive level. In my studio hangs an original poster of the film “The Forbidden Planet”, 1956, which I acquired in 2002. The first notable science fiction film and one of the largest scale productions for MGM at the time. The story line was borrowed from The Tempest, written by William Shakespeare, 1610. In this Hollywood adaption a scientist, Dr Morbius gains access to the limitless mind enhancing technology of the Krell, an extinct alien race. 

The doctor, a rationale man of science by day, enhances his mind with the Krell’s technology with dangerous outcomes. As he dreams he unleashes a powerful unconscious projection, an Id monster that destroys anyone who threatens his agenda in the conscious world. His fears, manifested through technology, become a weapon for destruction. This concept has stayed with me ever since I first studied this film in my foundation years. Later in my professional life when I began working with creative psychologists developing a museum dedicated to human creativity, the same theme kept reoccurring, our relationship to power, technology enabling our own destruction and the darkside of our existence.