ARIF DATOEM |
Contemplating Contagium 1
digital print on artificial canvas 120 x 80 cm 2022 |
Statement:
These artworks are inspired by the existence of people who engage in anxiety that
somehow they approach the situation in a playful way. It is a reflective expression
and a recollection of my feelings towards the condition when I had to stay indoors for
a month because of the pandemic situation. Being physically cooped up with limited
social engagement left me a bit crushed and my mind is somewhat in a hibernation
mode. In time, we must have the courage to intricately change the structure of our
mind either from disapproval and disobedience to certain aggravating situation that
have existed for some time, or from unforgettable tragic moments in the past, to
something with which we are closely related. Consequently, I was trying to look for a
way out to some transcendental utopias through the virtual realm of simulacrum.
The collection of pictures of used tissues and leftovers from meals taken on a daily
basis reflects my vibrations of the the mood and feeling I had during and after the
circumstances. This reflective paradigm somehow represents the whole point of
becoming unconsciously agreeing to something that is in the process of changing
from a certain state of mind, to another state. In fact, sometimes the thought-shifting
process always hinges on things going wrong, giving a person a good amount of
pressure to escape from sudden damage or suffering. As to why we change our
mindset towards something different and better, one must be aware of the
unpredictable dynamics of emotion, rationale, and faith, harmonized with human
knowledge, which are slowly but surely invigorating all the time.
These artworks are inspired by the existence of people who engage in anxiety that
somehow they approach the situation in a playful way. It is a reflective expression
and a recollection of my feelings towards the condition when I had to stay indoors for
a month because of the pandemic situation. Being physically cooped up with limited
social engagement left me a bit crushed and my mind is somewhat in a hibernation
mode. In time, we must have the courage to intricately change the structure of our
mind either from disapproval and disobedience to certain aggravating situation that
have existed for some time, or from unforgettable tragic moments in the past, to
something with which we are closely related. Consequently, I was trying to look for a
way out to some transcendental utopias through the virtual realm of simulacrum.
The collection of pictures of used tissues and leftovers from meals taken on a daily
basis reflects my vibrations of the the mood and feeling I had during and after the
circumstances. This reflective paradigm somehow represents the whole point of
becoming unconsciously agreeing to something that is in the process of changing
from a certain state of mind, to another state. In fact, sometimes the thought-shifting
process always hinges on things going wrong, giving a person a good amount of
pressure to escape from sudden damage or suffering. As to why we change our
mindset towards something different and better, one must be aware of the
unpredictable dynamics of emotion, rationale, and faith, harmonized with human
knowledge, which are slowly but surely invigorating all the time.