"I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soul.” -Bram Stoker, Dracula

 

Learning to live with fear has been the ever-evolving consequence of my childhood, and accordingly, the foundation of my adult life. The complex system of external, internal, tangible, and perceived dangers brought on throughout the journey of life must be constantly negotiated within the mind’s eye in order to survive, and also to thrive as the director of one’s own life. This negotiation is only possible if we are able to explore our fears, thus subverting them, taking control and willingly facing terrifying obstacles with open eyes staring brazenly into the darkness.

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For this series I have pieced together and personalized several archetypal images, using my research in Jungian psychoanalysis of folklore and fairy tales to create allegories of fear, exploration, and transformation within a world of chaos. The scope of the work, as with many classic fairy tale and mythological narratives, honours those curious and brave enough to dive into the belly of the beast. It is only through adversity and unsettlement that we can expect to grow and transform. Our readiness to become aware of the dangers in our path, and our willingness to acknowledge the darker elements within ourselves are the keys to self-discovery and allow us the opportunity to find beauty in fear, chaos, and the unknown.