The “Anak” series, painted with three primary colours representing distinct personalities, reflects on the parents’ role in supporting the younger generation. Parents face a lot of responsibilities in raising families, as they continue their family lineages and ensure their children are on the right path. Yet, at the same time, they have trouble understanding their children’s thoughts and emotions and can’t communicate with them, instead leaving them attached to their mobile devices. These situations remind me of the documentary The Social Dilemma which shows how social media deeply affects a person’s mind through forced advertisements and misinformation.
“Dystopians: Himpit”, a visual adaptation of Metro Manila during Ajim’s first visit in early 2019, makes me feel confined in a tight space as I recall my experience taking public transport and being crammed in with commuters during peak hours. While commuting, we often observe people within our surroundings, lost in our deep thoughts until we reach our destinations. The overlapping lines and strokes embody the interactions with the crowd, the different individual directions and the notion of fear in narrow spaces. During this unprecedented COVID-19 time, we rely on technology for virtual calls and meetings while staying at home. Whether we are in the company of others, or alone, the atmosphere and crowded spaces trigger a desire to fill up our emptiness.
Ajim Juxta’s solo exhibition ‘Dystopians’ took place from Sep 26 to Oct 27 at Artemis Art Gallery in Publika.