Anima & Animus, 1988, Vorpal Gallery, San Francisco
Coming directly out of Graduate School, Vorpal gallery invited a few artists to make installations. Based on the idea of the anima and animus defined by Carl Jung, this installation delves into the duality within ourselves—the hero and the villain. Each figure in the work uses my own face, exploring and depicting the inner psyche. Some pieces are direct reinterpretations of works of old masters, while others draw from these influences, creating a dialogue between historical and contemporary introspection. Using a Salon-Style Hanging, the works are in an immersive, layered visual experience. The walls are a satin-covered tactile backdrop, while a low-volume sound and subtle scents evoke emotional resonance and deepen the viewer’s connection and experience. The installation invites viewers to reflect on internal narratives, spurring an intimate confrontation with the facets of the self that shape personal mythologies.
Heaven/Hell Single-surface, hand-colored, gelatin-silver print, framed, 93 x 44 inches 1988
Ariadne, Bacchus & Venus Single-surface, hand-colored, gelatin-silver print, framed, 48 x 48 inches 1988
(after Tintoretto Bacchus, Venus and Ariadne 1576)
The Rape Of Of The Sabine Women Single-surface, hand-colored, gelatin-silver print, framed, 48 x 48 inches 1988
(after) Sir Peter Paul Rubens
Castle Single-surface, hand-colored, gelatin-silver print, framed, 42 x 48 inches 1988
Flying Single-surface, hand-colored, gelatin-silver print, framed, 48 x 92 inches 1988
Gender Struggle Single-surface, hand-colored, gelatin-silver print, framed, 42 x 46 inches 1988
David & Goliath Single-surface, hand-colored, gelatin-silver print, framed, 38 x 28 inches 1988
(after Caravaggio c. 1609–1610)
© J. John Priola, all rights reserved