Assumptions, antagonism, apocalypse

This essay delves into the intricate interplay between truth, fiction, pain, and artistry in the contemporary global environment, within the framework of my artistic practice. Through an interdisciplinary lens influenced by Zygmunt Bauman, Donna Haraway, and Boaventura de Sousa Santos, it explores the tensions inherent in navigating an artistic practice amid a world marked by pain and impending uncertainty. The essay explores themes of assumptions, antagonism, and apocalypse, with a foundation in the theories of situated knowledge, hyper-politics, and the impact of liquid modernity on the artist's role. The narrative culminates in a discussion of katabasis, drawing parallels with mythological journeys and the transformative potential of descending into the underworld. Through a series of exhibited works from my solo exhibition Failed Escapist: The Mass Extinction Archives, I navigate the emotional landscape of mourning, searching, and confronting a world in crisis.