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MIMETIC THEORY ON CANVAS PHILIPPE HALABURDA STUDIO, NEWBURGH, NY, USA JULY 2024
Mimetic desire
About the theme of "mimetic desire"
I explore the concept of mimetic desire outlined by René Girard, using acrylic colors, black yarn, and Lego bricks to represent the dynamic forces of imitation and individuality.
The acrylic colors create a dense, ever-shifting backdrop, symbolizing the societal pressures and desires that shape our choices.
The black yarn, interwoven throughout the piece, represents the tangled web
of imitation—how we often unconsciously mirror others' desires.
This yarn stretches across the canvas in loops and intersections, showing
how we are caught in a cycle of wanting what others want.
Yet, simultaneously, it creates tension and chaos as it pulls us away
from authentic, self-determined paths.
The use of Lego bricks further enhances this metaphor.
They represent the building blocks of our identity and desires,
often constructed in response to external influences.
Scattered and arranged in unconventional patterns, these bricks emphasize the fragmentation and disjointed nature of mimetic desire.
They symbolize how pursuing external approval or societal expectations leads us to build our lives according to others’ designs rather than creating our own.
The composition as a whole challenges the viewer to question their motivations and how they, too, may be influenced by the desires of others.
It urges a return to forging one's path amidst the chaos of imitation.
Details of the series
SERIES OF 7 ABSTRACT PAINTINGS
Emotion Negative and forceful, irritation
Material Acrylic, color tape, yarn, LEGO brick
Medium Stretched canvas 36 x 36 inches
Date 2024
Authentification Signed and title on the back
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