This piece is a representation of my true self through the use of symbolism and metaphor, also referencing the photomontage style of Hannah Hoch. My artistic process began in an effort to connect my own face with different parts of a 4-cylinder engine by splicing different pictures and arranging them in unique ways, ultimately implying that I am constantly running like a machine. I added gauges which look like clocks, and distorted their coloring, since I have my own distorted perception of time and reality. I added the colorful energy to my eyes, running from the engine parts, because I am full of potential greatness and confident about it. The top hand in the image is darker and holding me down, representing the restrictions faced in life. The hand underneath is much lighter in color and lifts me up to the endless limits of the sky.
-Jacksen Aukamp, Levitated Self (Avatar Project)
Jacksen Aukamp Art Blog 