(self-) encounters

de boer (Antwerpen) is pleased to present (self-) encounters, a group exhibition curated by Isa Van den Wouwer, which includes works by Dóra Benyó, Sara Carter, Darius Dolatyari-Dolatdoust, and Meri Toivanen.

“After all, if my survivability depends on a relation to others, to a "you" or a set of "yous" without whom I cannot exist, then my existence is not mine alone, but is to be found outside myself, in this set of relations that precede and exceed the boundaries of who I am. If I have a boundary at all, or if a boundary can be said to belong to me, it is only because I have become separated from others, and it is only on condition of this separation that I can relate to them at all. So the boundary is a function of the relation, a brokering of difference, a negotiation in which I am bound to you in my separateness.”

(Judith Butler, Frames of War: When is Life Grievable?)

(self-)encounters investigates the ways in which we perceive, shape, and articulate our sense of self, whether revealed through inward gazes, or, alternatively, through interrelations and interdependencies, along with our ties to non-human entities. Uniting the artistic practices of Dóra Benyó, Sara Carter, Darius Dolatyari-Dolatdoust, and Meri Toivanen, this group presentation illustrates the complexities of the self by indicating how self-exploration intricately takes shape through thought and bodily sensations.

In Edward Young's words, we seek to encounter and untangle the ‘stranger’ that quietly resides within us. Perpetually fluctuating, the task of grasping one's individuality and articulating the (un)boundedness of the inner self remains elusive. The group of artists approaches the notion of self-inquiry and intimate realities through a nuanced lens, fostering broader conversations on self-expansion.

The self, while seemingly autonomous and self-contained, is profoundly entangled with the socio-cultural context we navigate and the relational beings who surround us. In this vein, our relation to national identities and ancestral memories are contemplated. Reflecting on cultural ties as an extension of the self, we come to understand how our past—and our longing for it—shapes us in the present. These ties can serve as anchors, grounding us. Our proximity to others, the intimacy and closeness within relationships, as well as meaning cultivated through encounters allows for vulnerability and a relationally-defined concept of the self.

Rooted in this relational nature of the self, each of us is integral to a social fabric, yet in which the barriers between individuals may merge or dissolve entirely. Collective bodies hold intricate bonds; whereas these webs of relationships can offer us mutual commitment, emotional synchronicity and a sense of reciprocity and alignment, they may also entrap us in a tangle of imbalanced power dynamics, interdependencies, and emotions of domination or submission.

(self-)encounters lays bare the contrast between these two angles; the works explore how inward encounters and interrelations guide us to introspection in their own distinct ways, while alluding to the deeper implications they may carry. By exploring their potential, we strengthen our capacity for self-encountering—awakening what was once dormant in the self.