Joan Aglaia Choremi

Artist Statement:

What does it mean to be resilient? How does one overcome adversity? Inspired by the book Thought Forms by Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater, Thought Form I: Resiliency imitates the action of or, effect of, resiliency in relationship with our inner selves. A ‘thought form’ is made of energy and contains our emotional and mental matter. The authors claim our observations or thoughts ‘produce a double effect - a radiating vibration and floating form.’ This theosophical approach to visualizing our thoughts, experiences and emotions is the driving force of my art practice. With the idea that thoughts are ‘things’ also welcomes this idea that colors have meaning. The meaning of colors symbolize the character and activity of emotions. In this case for Thought Form I: Resiliency, the darker hues of black, blue and red symbolize the challenges one faces; the yellow expresses selfish purposes; the pale luminous yellow, white and pink echo unselfish power; the magenta signifies the thrill of seeking rebirth; and splatters of orange mean pride and ambition to overcome. It is no doubt that the experience of resiliency is subjective. Our thoughts and emotions are internal and private. No one can actually ‘see’ our inner self mull over hardship. Thought Form I: Resiliency is an expression of my personal experience in building resiliency from this past year's difficulties. Emotions connected to fear, anxiety, containment, growth, death, belief, celebration, hope, change and happiness are simultaneously exposed in Thought Form I: Resiliency.