By Josh Hughes
“The mirror displays the reflection of the human body, clothed, unclothed, with scars, with or without hair. The physical appearance of the individual glancing at their image,” reads Alan Alatorre-Barajas’ introduction to the “Perception of Self” Gallery in the VU. Alatorre-Barajas is the Cultural Education Coordinator for the Ethnic Student Center. Non-confrontationally placed on an ordinary wall in the depths of the AS offices, Alatorre-Barajas’ description for the ESC’s exhibit gives the viewer an eloquently worded entryway to the assortment of student paintings, photographs, and poetry that line the walls of the room.
The fourth floor of the VU, accessed by passing the post office on the fifth floor (navigating this building can be a complicated endeavor), is home to an amalgam of Associated Students offices and clubs, including our own AS Review headquarters. Tucked back in the labyrinth is the ESC office, where volunteers, employees and students associated with the group hold meetings, organize events and do whatever they can to keep the program running strong. Along the various hallways and walls leading to the office, there’s a number of different works of art, mostly with captions, that are part of the “Perception of Self” exhibit, which runs until March 8.
ABOVE: This small pad of paper hangs from a string in the middle of the exhibit. Photo by Ricky Rath // AS Review.
The gallery, which was open for any and all students to submit to, addresses the parallel ideas of self acceptance and the advent of adulthood.
“The transition to college life, away from the verbal and physical harassments of the past. Detached from the familial and gender expectations. One freely begins the journey to self-identification – an encounter with one’s self,” continues Barajas’ artistic statement introducing the gallery.
Throughout the twenty-something pieces that line the exhibit, the themes fluctuate from acceptance of flaws and fears to empowerment of underrepresented cultural backgrounds, and the mediums range from charcoal drawings to page-long poetry. Some artists choose to remain anonymous while others confront their own identity in a more publicized way, allowing anyone to catch an idealized, momentary glimpse of the artist in vein with how they perceive themselves.
Nicole Denning’s “i lost the sound of my voice” depicts two overlaid photos with traces of additional oil paint to express the conflicting emotions of losing her hearing as a sophomore at Western. The work itself immediately strikes a chord of puzzlement — of a need to prevail even through a sense of scary uncertainty. Conversely, Alatorre-Barajas’ paired poem and photograph showcases the beauty of individualism by flipping a condescending monologue into a joyful embrace of uniqueness.
Elsewhere, there are bold attacks on colonialism, poems on first love and charcoal drawings of intertwined identical twins. There’s no single thread of common ground that ties “Perception of Self” together, but in looking at the diversity and self-acceptance throughout the gallery I’m reminded of a peculiar soap ad I once read that merely said “in differences lie affinities”.
ABOVE: “Perception of Self” stretches back into the 4th floor of the VU, near the Publicity Center. Photo by Ricky Rath // AS Review.
Having made my way to the gallery late into the evening after the opening reception on March 1, I was greeted by nothing but the sad remains of a bowl of some kind of dessert, the dregs of a punch bowl, and a polite janitor sweeping up for the night (if it’s helpful to know, the gallery maintains the same exact hours as the entire VU throughout the next week). But instead of feeling out of place in the desolate, borderline eerie AS lobby area, I felt an even stronger connection to the snapshots and freeze-frame glimpses into such a diverse group of students’ lives.
Whether you enjoy the bustling chaos of an average day at the Associated Students or the lull of peaceful nighttime, “Perception Of Self” is running through March 8, and it’s accessible to anyone and everyone who knows how to navigate ever elusive and mysterious fourth floor of the VU.
To get to the fourth floor via elevator, enter the VU on the sixth floor and take the elevator next to the Info Desk down to “4E.”
Featured Image: “Perception of Self” held a reception to mark the opening of the exhibit. Photo by Ricky Rath // AS Review.