NEXUS : a solo exhibition by Corné Eksteen

Nexus (Origin: Latin, meaning: “a binding together”)

In contemporary culture the term “Nexus” is often used as a suggestion to indicate links or associations between groups, objects or abstract concepts. It is also used to indicate a central point between these often, opposing objects or ideas.  The visualisation of this central point of intersection, where a balance, a focal point or in its most rudimental form: symmetry is reached  forms the visual basis for this body of work.

The concept of symmetry is deeply engrained in the human psyche, from our physical form where it dictates who we find attractive and beautiful, through to how we design our spaces, clothing and cultural artefacts.  This universal understanding of symmetry is used as a means to explore identity and create emotional “landscapes.”

Through the creation of double and multiple portraits of sitters occupying a singular space – an added layer of symmetry is utilised to evoke an amplified emotional connection with or response to the image. This visual tactic mimics methods used in the Rorschach test, a psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analysed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both.  Psychologists use this test to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning. 

Collectively these works explore links between the sitter, the artist and finally the viewer in search of the nexus of their combined experience.