ARTBASH is an annual exhibition co-produced by faculty and students of SAIC's Contemporary Practices yearlong program. As a part of the Site/Sight category Rea Silvia created an installation displayed in the university's front window.
artist statement
The installation explores the delicate relationship between identity and protection. The shells that encase the face in her work are a physical manifestation of the layers we use to safeguard ourselves from the outside world.
The organic texture of the materials used in the installation serves to underscore the connection between our physical bodies and our sense of self. The intricate details of the shells invite the viewer to contemplate the complexity of identity and how it is affected by the environment in which we live. By creating multiple layers towards the outside world, the piece prompts the viewer to consider the ways in which we present ourselves to others and how that presentation can differ from our innermost selves.
