Misapprehended - Fall 2023 - Visual Arts

Fall 2023 Visual Culture: REPRESENT!: Misapprehended
IVETTE LEVY
Transcending Border, 2023
Mix-Media: Acrylic, Gel Sticks, 30” x 40” x 2”
My artwork, titled ‘Transcending Borders,’ intricately weaves together
symbols and elements that embody the theme of the exhibition.
Through the depiction of a chessboard as a microcosm of life’s
challenges and choices, three symbolic pawns emerge, representing
the struggles of humanity against power dynamics. Each pawn
carries a sign bearing untranslatable words from different languages,
encapsulating profound human experiences. The gazes of the pawns
rise toward the upper right corner of the canvas as if seeking guidance
in the vast symphony of existence. As an immigrant, I’ve personally
experienced the frustration of struggling to convey emotions and
thoughts that sometimes seem beyond the grasp of words. On the
upper left side of the canvas, a white square with vertical lines, squares,
and rectangles represents the universal language, a non physical
continuation of the chessboard’s lines, signifying a spiritual connection
that transcends boundaries. With the North Star guiding the way, this
painting navigates the fine balance between individuality and a higher
sense of belonging, resonating with the exhibition’s exploration of the
imperfect nature of dialogue and the quest for genuine understanding.
www.ivetteramoslevy.com
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