This study examines the aspects of inner cognition and unrecognizability through the painterly reconstruction of figures emerging from memory and imagination. Beginning with the fundamental question, “Who am I?”, the research develops a series of ...
This study examines the aspects of inner cognition and unrecognizability through the painterly reconstruction of figures emerging from memory and imagination. Beginning with the fundamental question, “Who am I?”, the research develops a series of works that visualize the invisible yet undeniably present existence of the self and the Other.
The ‘Untitled’ series investigates self-perception by depicting the artist’s own body—from below the chin to the chest—using white acrylic on a white canvas. The subtle reliefs formed on the surface become visible only when illuminated, revealing the presence of the self as something imperceptible yet existent. This leads to the recognition that one’s existence becomes evident through relationships with others.
The ‘Close’ series expands this exploration from the self to the realm of the Other. Without revealing the face, each work conveys the subject’s unique atmosphere and color, while a vertical line drawn in a contrasting hue symbolizes the relationship between the artist and the depicted figure. Although the early works were based on real individuals, the series gradually shifted toward figures emerging from imagination or the unconscious, marking a transition from tangible presence to internalized imagery.
Ultimately, both bodies of work converge in the understanding that existence is always sensed within relational contexts. They visualize invisible others—imagined or internal presences—that exist only through affective and cognitive perception. Through this artistic practice, the study analyzes how inner cognition is transformed into visual expression, revealing the aesthetic and ontological dimensions of perceiving the self and the Other within contemporary art.