Distracting Narcissus, Eckersleys Open space gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, 2016

Distracting Narcissus is an exploration of the concept of self-obsession. Narcissism is understood to be the “excessive interest or admiration of ones self/ ones physical appearance”

Each artist has explored a different facet of narcissism. From the iconic celebrity, to the psychology and the conflicting duality, audiences can expect to become totally submersed in the world of both modern and historical narcissism.

Artists:

• Stephanie Babinczy

• Luke Brady

• Jodie Mae Holm

• Cristina Ingbritsen (Me)

• Chelsea MacDonald

• Jameela Mahazi

• Vlona Mehmedi

• Maegan Oberhardt

• Makala Poole

• Orlando Duma Raphael Wint Saint-Sebastien

Artist Statement:

In this exhibition, I explored book characters whose self-centeredness blinds them to the harm they inflict on those around them until it is too late. The portraits feature a dual-sided approach: on one side, the characters are depicted against a lighter background with imagery hinting at their potential for positive impact, should they shift their focus beyond themselves. The reverse side, featuring a mirror and darker background, reveals the consequences of their self-absorption. The characters I chose include Gilderoy Lockhart from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, Dorian Gray from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, and Queen Elspeth (the Evil Queen/Stepmother) from Little Snow White by the Brothers Grimm. I drew inspiration from my favorite cinematic portrayals of these characters, incorporating mirrors and symbolic objects to enrich the illustrations.

In addition to creating work as a featured artist, I served as the head catalogue designer for this exhibit. With the assistance of Orlando Saint-Sebastien, I hand-bound over 100 catalogue copies. I developed the initial design layout and, with support from Stephanie Babinczy, brought the content to life in digital format.