Aliiyah Cole
Once Upon A
False Reality
Once Upon a False Reality explores the feelings of childlike wonder through reflecting on the past. I am using oil paint to create a six-by-six-foot painting that is alongside smaller oil paintings, graphite drawings, and pen studies. I take different approaches towards spreading awareness about mental health struggles and am passionate about establishing a safe space through art for the purpose of bringing communities closer together and to initiate a healing journey for viewers.
Artist/Thesis Statement
Through art, I desire to explore the feelings of childlike wonder and nostalgia by revisiting the past. From an early age, I invented and envisioned environments that did not exist. Art has saved my life in many ways and continues to serve as an opportunity to learn and improve. Through my creative endeavors, I try to present myself in a genuine way to others. For the most part, there are some correlations between the reasons why I want to do art and what I am trying to accomplish with the Senior Studio project because I want to spread awareness about mental health struggles that people face and how they impact family members or individuals who care about the person who is suffering. In addition, I chose to use oil paint as a form of representation over any other medium because of its plasticity and ability to modify constantly. There are infinite approaches that can be taken with oil paint, which allow me to have space for experimentation or to discover what methods best work for me.
In my painting “Once Upon a False Reality,” the concept is based on my personal experiences. An incomplete painting of me and my family in a challenging situation is positioned in the upper right-hand corner of the composition. The part that remains unfinished is meant to embody the pain and suffering that my family has and continues to endure. Over the years, I have continued to gradually decline in health physically and mentally. I have allowed self-doubt to consume me and as a result have punished myself due to feeling unworthy and inferior to everyone else. There is constant stress and worry my family faces each day. The composition references an oil painting by Caravaggio to connect with the over exaggeration and evocation of deep emotions that resonate with me and the constant battle between wanting to recover for my family but at the same time giving in to the rigid habits or coping mechanisms that are a toxic approach in trying to protect myself from certain unpredictable life situations that appear unexpectedly. I intend to have the following element somewhat hidden away from the audience, which is primarily driven towards adult individuals with the hope that they will eventually realize that the artwork conveys a deeper meaning than what is initially believed when looking. I want my art piece to additionally appeal to a younger audience, reinforcing the idea that most children are led to think more innocently or are unaware of what situations are prominent in the world. I want my work to create a safe and non-triggering space and to be an outlet to demonstrate a higher purpose to bring communities closer and serve as a coping mechanism and tool for healing.
