“Systems of Self” presents a collection of Sky Beason’s (b.2005) work having to do with form, function, and the mechanics of reflection. Beason, who often finds themselves inspired by Max Ernst and early surrealism, is currently a senior at Saint Ann’s School, and plans to attend Rhode Island School of Design in the fall.
As they navigate young adulthood and themes of adolescent belonging, their art presents a keen awareness of the internal and external systems in, by, and of which they exist. A lover of process, Beason is understanding artistic honesty and vulnerability—their vehicle? X-RAY vision. Through layering techniques, shadow figures, anthropomorphic texturing of fabric, and an interest in revealing the subconscious, Beason forces the figures they draw, along with the viewer, to open up.
Through process and practice, Beason conveys a sense of control: “When I put mechanical systems in work I think it’s mostly about restraint— clasping tightly, snagging on things, choking etc. whereas systems of biology are softer.” Their materials are affected by this ideology as they explore the pen vs. pencil or permanence vs. ephemerality. With an almost systemic understanding of media, they described how materiality serves their work: “I want collage portraits to flow into each other and also reference each other,” they are able to define how the self interacts externally and internally.
Through their processes of “deconstructed self-portraiture”, they are able to trace back the systems that shape their own identity.
“Systems of Self” presents a collection of Sky Beason’s (b.2005) work having to do with form, function, and the mechanics of reflection. Beason, who often finds themselves inspired by Max Ernst and early surrealism, is currently a senior at Saint Ann’s School, and plans to attend Rhode Island School of Design in the fall.
As they navigate young adulthood and themes of adolescent belonging, their art presents a keen awareness of the internal and external systems in, by, and of which they exist. A lover of process, Beason is understanding artistic honesty and vulnerability—their vehicle? X-RAY vision. Through layering techniques, shadow figures, anthropomorphic texturing of fabric, and an interest in revealing the subconscious, Beason forces the figures they draw, along with the viewer, to open up.
Through process and practice, Beason conveys a sense of control: “When I put mechanical systems in work I think it’s mostly about restraint— clasping tightly, snagging on things, choking etc. whereas systems of biology are softer.” Their materials are affected by this ideology as they explore the pen vs. pencil or permanence vs. ephemerality. With an almost systemic understanding of media, they described how materiality serves their work: “I want collage portraits to flow into each other and also reference each other,” they are able to define how the self interacts externally and internally.
Through their processes of “deconstructed self-portraiture”, they are able to trace back the systems that shape their own identity.