ESCAPISM
RVCC 2021 Portfolio development Exhibition
ESCAPISM
ABOUT THe exhibition
When all participating artists pitched various themes for this exhibition, “Escapism” immediately stood out. It was implicitly evident that we each developed our own unique ways to escape from reality, seeking a temporary relief throughout the ongoing global pandemic. This exhibition is a result of each artist questioning their definition of “Escapism”, hoping to provide a fascinating look into our peculiar human psychology.
For many, our home is a primary locale of escapism. We can relate easily to Luis Natal’s “Trapped Inside”. Intense colors from outside seeping into our gray home appears both seductive and dangerous, illustrating our conflicting desire to venture outside during the pandemic. Alicia Novoa turns her focus towards interior. Idea of comfort and relaxation is expressed through a figure imbibing in harmonious interior textile design in her digital “Patchwork”. Yet such comfort’s fragility is demonstrated in “Habitat of Distraction” by June Varkoly. This miniature paper model of a family huddled around a living room TV was left outside in rain overnight, slowly washing away colors of the wall, TV, carpet, and people. Contrary to Varkoly’s skeptical view of ephemeral escape offered through media, Melanie Woj’s “Listen Closely” displays a complete embrace of media and popular culture. In this self portrait, the artist appears to be living inside an alternative world of endless playlist of her favorite songs. Similarly, Chuck Tighe embraces a world of cinema. In “One-Way Mirror”, the central director’s hands present us an irresistible escape into the expansive seductive world of actors and actresses.
Instead of searching outward, other artists prefer to search inward for an answer, starting from their own body and mind. In Max McFadden’s “Calyx”, we find a cocooned figure floating, perhaps in amniotic fluid, while the figure’s eyeball is nervously searching. “Suffocating” by Alex Czirok presents a darker side of escapism, revealing a state of desperation through his figure’s distortion and exaggerated body gasping for air. In addition, mortality and death is a haunting theme when considering our fragile body. In “Forced Escapism”, Sarah Switlyk visualizes a complex entanglement of comatose patients’ subconsciousness, while Lily Zorechak’s “Hidden Reality” seems to reveal repressed pain of loss that we collectively will carry on well after the current pandemic is over.
Needless to say, our powerful imagination becomes a great vehicle to escape into a fantastical world. Mike Rego’s “Escapism” shows a teenager stepping out from his dull brown bedroom into a colorful world of magical characters. If Rego offers an exciting world of joyous adventure, Justine MacKinnon’s “Freedom” is a world of vicious cruelty. Chaotic ensembles of fantastical characters are chasing to eat or being eaten by others, each interaction causing a ripple effect throughout the chain. Fantasy may also take us to an alternative mysterious world. “She’s Leaving” by Emelia Detorres takes place in fictional outer space where the heroine embarks on her faithful journey. For Alli Maher, such journey may spiral through a dizzying hallucinogenic wormhole, perhaps accompanied by aliens, as seen in hypnotically patterned “Twisted Reality”.
Coming back from this journey, Ana Carolina Mitchell’s “Escape” reminds us of our current everyday lives. Taking on a humorous approach, Mitchell appears to pinpoint our desire to escape from endless computer work exacerbated by the pandemic. And as this journey winds down, Tamara Jones’ “Road Less Traveled By” calls attention to series of choices we must each make during our own journey, where a future path of bright colors lies ahead, where we will each fill ourselves with unique colors.
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Ji Yong Kim
Instructor, Foundation & Painting
Arts & Design
Raritan Valley Community College
artists
My name is Alex Czirok. I've been an artist for 5 years. I create art to represent Ideas in my own way.
Graphic designer who focuses on nature and hobbies throughout my work. I love to draw, skateboard and snowboard on my free time.
Hi! My name is Alicia Novoa and I am a 22 year old Graphic Designer. My work incorporates various themes ranging from travel destinations, pop culture, and even present day issues. I enjoy utilizing bright colors and different textures to convey numerous feelings.
I’m Ana Mitchell, a Graphic Designer who believes that a good design achieves Gestalt, and all the elements are equally important to be effective as a unity. I appreciate details and I believe that they add so much value to the design. The boldness of simplicity inspires me to create simple yet bold designs that are innovative, useful and visually attractive.
From music, to film, to graphic design, illustration, and more; I'm experienced in and appreciate many forms of art. I can't be sure the future will take me, but as long as I'm creating, I'll be fine.
I'm a fine artist whose focus is in painting and drawing and my subjects range from landscapes and animals to American Traditional art and nature.
June Varkoly: Graphic Design major
I am a illustrator / graphic designer. I enjoy realism to illustrations, bold and bright colors to black and white. I enjoy making dense and detailed artwork because I like to look at a piece and find something new every time I look at it. I create art because it is my passion, and my goal is for it to be something people can't forget.
Art has been a part of my life ever since I could remember and because of this it has turned me into a very creative person with a strong drive to make as much art as I can. I belive art is the most powerful thing on this planet because it gives a voice to those who dont have a voice of their own. Many people escape and voice how they are feeling through the arts. I have a deep emotional art style purposely so that people can relate and feel something when they look at my work.
I am a fine artist that tries to capture the world in the moment. In my art, I try to capture the techniques I currently know while implementing new ideas. Through fine art, I can show more about myself to others.
My artwork is largely informed by feelings of dissociation and disjunction. I often manifest notions of being fractional, out-of-body, etc. in the form of strange creature-characters. I make use of organic and liquidy forms, mixed human and inhuman features, and even elements of body horror to create characters with visually distinct emotion and personality.
I am a graphic designer. Analyzing the world through graphic design with diverse techniques of using color, type, and imagery, creating imaginative projects that express me. Graphic design is my safe place, to get away from the real world, letting myself go, allowing my imagination to take control, expressing my true inner self through my works. It’s the one time I truly excel, never having a doubtful moment, always eager to improve my skills, intending to incline to a professional skill level.
Hello! I’m Mike Rego, a portuguese american artist who uses the visual medium to create characters, set scenes and tell stories. My work focuses on character design, and uses elements of design, external reference and color in order to act as visual shorthand to help communicate the story to an audience. I’m heavily inspired by animations, art history, fashion design and Japanese culture. My art is stylized, with exaggerated shapes and lines.
The most impactful aspect of my artmaking journey is in creating artwork that people can relate to. I hope that my art can give someone comfort in not feeling alone. By bringing awareness to the validity of the diversity of people’s minds, I hope to create a sense of relief and comfort in those who view my art.
When I create art there are certain elements, I use throughout my work, strong lines and bold color schemes being two of them. I consider myself to be a bold and outgoing individual, so it only makes sense for my art to mimic my personality. While others may use their art for whatever reasons that may be, I use my art as a form of escapism. It allows me to block out excess noise while putting my energy into something constructive.