With the emerging and increasing presence of new technologies, our communication globally has become more extensive and provided us with more unsorted opportunities, such as the Internet. It allows us to stay connected worldwide with strengthened human rights. However, protests are also easily facilitated, perhaps with unlimited access to various information. From my point of view, what we see and hear from that information affects our thoughts. In my observation, what makes us divided is our own biases and personal opinions on various subjects.
I used symbolism to portray my concept in this art. Thus, a globe profile with a partially obscured question mark sign; a horizontal bar suggest a division symbol that means a divided world. Enclosed within the rectangular bar is symbolism I used to depict the prime reason that divides the world from my perspective. Thus, the "gender inequality" symbol from the leftmost corner suggests male dominance; the "clenched fist" symbolizes defiance and solidarity; the mouth, eye, and ear signify information we absorbed; the Christian cross and Islam crescent with a division sign in between, that suggest significant divisiveness in religion and beliefs; donkey and elephant icon which is a prominent political symbol in the US which indicate partisanship and political indifference.
As I observed, this gender inequality, racial discrimination, political unrest, political crisis, political ideology, political affiliation, territorial dispute, deadly violence, extreme religious beliefs, and so on caused misunderstanding and suffering and caused our divisiveness and unfairness regardless of race. In my opinion, what others mention to us, and what we see and hear from others and absorb deeply in our thoughts cause confirmation bias, our cultural or tribal upbringing, and extreme patriotism and ideology influence our views in life. I sometimes asked myself these illogical questions: what if we only have one country? What if we only have one similar thought? What if we only have one faith or one religion? What if we only have one race, the same color of skin? What if there's only one gender in this world? Will it make a big difference and solve these global problems? Because we only have "one world," and I believe we only have "One God"! What if we rotate the horizontal bar from the artwork forming vertically upright, indicating the "number one" sign? I wish the world only had one in everything; perhaps, the world will have only one positive direction.
- Framed: 31.25 x 22.25 x 1.25 in (79.38 x 56.52 x 3.18 cm)
- Subject Matter: Figurative
- Created: August 24, 2022
- Inventory Number: NMHA-220824-1
- Collections: Curiosity series