THE ROARSHOCK SERIES (2022)

What do you see?

Inspired by the work of Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach, ROARSHOCK encourages viewers to explore the realm of subjective perception and its profound impact on our understanding of the world around us.

Hermann Rorschach aimed to unearth a test that could bypass conscious manipulation, delving into the depths of the subconscious to reveal an individual's true self. His development of the Rorschach test represented a significant departure from previous personality assessments, as it relied on the unfiltered interpretations of inkblot images. Rorschach firmly believed that one's mind could not deceive itself when confronted with these ambiguous stimuli, resulting in a portrayal that accurately depicted an individual's innermost nature based on what an individual saw in his inkblots.

I was captivated by the notion that two individuals could view the same image or encounter the same event yet interpret and react to them in vastly diverse ways simply due to their individual perspectives. (This idea felt even more significant when viewed against the backdrop of contemporary society with its ongoing tapestry of societal and political events that continually shape our individual perspectives.)

While studying Rorschach’s inkblots, another source of inspiration emerged when I encountered the awe-inspiring images released by the James Webb Telescope. These celestial vistas showcased the vast unknown, inviting viewers to embark on their own personal explorations. What struck me most was the remarkable divergence in people's reactions and experiences when confronted with the enigmatic beauty of the cosmos. Some were captivated by wonder, others found themselves unsettled, and a few were even consumed by a sense of dread.

I intertwined these two threads of inspiration throughout this collection, which is deliberately titled as a misspelling of Rorschach's name. The intention is to shed light not only on the inherent subjectivity of personal truths, but also on the potential for our perceptions to rest upon fallacies that we may remain oblivious to. Each painting, featuring celestial inkblots of my own creation, serves as a powerful visual reminder that our interpretations- shaped by personal experiences and biases- form the very foundation of our understanding.

ROARSHOCK invites us all to question the very nature of truth and reflect upon the fascinating interplay between our interpretations and the stimuli that shape our world. Through this exploration, we are encouraged to embrace the rich diversity of human perception, fostering empathy and deepening our appreciation for the captivating complexity of the human mind.