We live surrounded by a myriad of colors in our daily lives. These colors lightly overlay and layer themselves, forming a complex structure that shapes our lives and identities. Dopamine.C's exhibition, ¡®Fake Dopamine, Missing Dopamine,¡¯ explores the emotions, addictions, and deficiencies hidden between these layers, using the chemical ¡®dopamine¡¯ to reflect on our inner selves and society.
In recent years, ¡®dopamine¡¯ has evolved beyond its role as a neurotransmitter, becoming a modern keyword symbolizing both happiness and addiction. Dopamine.C does not simply view dopamine through the lens of pleasure and addiction, but rather delves into the profound effects it has on human life. Dopamine operates across the entire spectrum of emotions¡ªjoy, sorrow, passion, and despair¡ªwhile at the same time driving both addiction and deficiency. However, Dopamine.C transcends a simplistic, binary approach, offering a deeper exploration of how dopamine defines and alters our emotions within contemporary society.
In ¡®Fake Dopamine, Missing Dopamine,¡¯ Dopamine.C focuses on three colors. The color of balloons symbolizes artificially inflated joy and its fleeting nature, the color of flowers captures the fragile beauty that shines within the natural cycle, and the color of paint reflects the artist¡¯s own creative process and the personal sense of achievement it brings. Each of these colors serves as a metaphor for the diverse and complex emotional responses dopamine evokes. Through these, the artist confronts the transient pleasure we seek in our daily lives and the sense of loss that often follows.
¡®Fake Dopamine¡¯ reflects the nature of artificially inflated joy, easily consumed and expanded in modern society. Though it appears cute and captivating, its core is hollow. The artist critically examines how this artificially created pleasure has become a significant value in modern life and explores its effects on society. On the other hand, ¡®Missing Dopamine¡¯ reconsiders the beauty of nature that we have taken for granted, and embarks on an effort to rediscover lost emotions and the true essence of dopamine.
The tension between the color of balloons and the color of flowers symbolizes the complex interaction between the human psyche and the outside world. The instant gratification so easily accessible in today¡¯s society, and the disciplined rhythm of daily life shaped by nature, are both influenced by dopamine. Through their work, Dopamine.C explores how these two contrasting elements shape our lives, revealing that dopamine functions as a complex emotional mechanism that cannot be explained solely by pleasure and addiction.
For the artist, the process of seeking dopamine parallels the process of creation itself. By layering colors and shaping forms, the artist experiences genuine fulfillment. Yet it remains unclear whether that fulfillment is temporary or enduring. Through this exhibition, the artist examines the impact of dopamine on our lives, inviting viewers to reconsider their own emotions and pleasures from a fresh perspective. This exhibition offers an opportunity for each individual to rediscover the flow and balance of emotions within their daily lives.
SupportB Acrylic on canvas 162.2 x 112.1cm 2024
SupportA Acrylic on canvas 162.2 x 112.1cm 2024
Temptation Acrylic on canvas 162.2 x 130.3cm 2024
Favorite color Acrylic on canvas 162.2 x 112.1 cm 2024
The creator Acrylic on canvas 100 x 72.7 cm 2024
Everyday Life Acrylic on canvas 90.9 x 72.7cm 2024
Take a break Acrylic on canvas 90.9 x 65.1 cm 2024