April 2023
Dream of Subconscious Desire
Student
Phan Cong Bao Long
2210SUCCP
Phan Cong Bao Long
2210SUCCP
Specialism
Illustration
Illustration
Artist Statement
Exploring the Depths of the Subconscious Mind through Surrealist Art
While our physical selves lay dormant, our subconscious minds embark on adventures that we cannot even fathom. Although running aimlessly through oddly-shaped buildings may seem terrifying to most, it is in these moments of fear that we find comfort. This strange form of stimulation is what inspired the artwork, "To be lost in a dream" – a part of the series "Dreams of Subconscious Desires", which includes three mixed media pieces of surrealist art inspired by the works of Polish painter Zdzisław Beksiński.
The piece features vivid depictions of peculiarly-constructed buildings, illustrated as office blocks floating in a 3D dream-like space, almost like labyrinths. These structures sprawl out of a planet molded like a fleshy brain, a representation of how this architecture was created from deep within the human mind. A mysterious purple figure observes from afar, facing away from the viewer, as if embarking on an expedition. Alternatively, one can see this figure gazing longingly towards the planet, an element that emanates melancholy. The artwork was created by blending photography, digital painting, and 3D modeling, with the intention of capturing Beksiński's surreal yet nostalgic aesthetics.