ARTIST STATEMENT
Entering the atmosphere of my drawings, you are not a bystander but fully immersed in my environment. The projection of my fears begins within this space. The figures in these drawings, elongated and flimsy, give off feelings of extreme anguish. They are a lens to my own psyche-- to my own agony and pain. The dark spaces of the mouth and eyes reflect an unknownable scream.
It has been my experience that we are taught that emotions such as anger and sadness are negative. We are disciplined to conceal these feelings in order to isolate and detach from them. But in actuality no emotions are positive or negative, they just exist. This series of drawings explores the shape of my emotions as they are distorted by attempts to erase them. I try to embody this natural primal scream that follows us, whether we like it or not, it remains present.
C V
JO NANAJIAN
FINE ARTIST
Baltimore, MD
EDUCATION
BFA in General Fine Arts, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD,2018
EXHIBITIONS
2018 Immigrant Food Festival, Canton Waterfront park, Baltimore, MD
ArtScape, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, Baltimore, MD
ArtWalk, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore,MD
Am Fest, American University, Washington, DC
2017 Preview #4, Sheila and Richard Ricos Gallery,Baltimore, MD
Untitled, Carriage House, Baltimore, MD
Junior Independent, Alvin and Louise Myerberg Gallery, Baltimore,MD
Brown Paper Zine, Eubie Blake, Baltimore, MD
PMFVIII, Baltimore School of Design, Baltimore, MD
2016 Junior Independent, Alvin and Louise Myerberg Gallery
GFA Show, Main Building, Baltimore, MD
Anatomy Show, Main Building, Baltimore, MD
2015 Book Arts Show, Fox Building, Baltimore, MD
2014 AP Art Show, Belmont Art Gallery, Belmont, MA
FEATURED WORK
2017 Work featured in ZEROZINE by 0ZONE
CONTACT
INFORMATION
@nanajivn