French-Armenian artist Philippe Safire discussed his exhibit, “Transition,” at a presentation at Mount Saint Mary College’s Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center on Thursday, February 16.
With more than 50 students in attendance, Safire shared his background and the inspirations for “Transition,” which focuses on the pervasive influence of technology in our lives.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the relationship between humans and technology,” said Safire.
The exhibit, which was on display in the Mount Saint Mary College CMA Gallery in Aquinas Hall for several months, featured artwork composed of cut black paper paired with vibrant “pixels” rendered with color pencils. Using familiar symbols and pop culture iconography, Safire’s work shows an interaction between the physical and digital worlds.
The artist spoke about the concept of dematerialization that is woven throughout this exhibit. Physical items that were commonplace not too long ago, like maps and photographs, have been replaced by digital versions with more flexibility but perhaps not the same longevity, he explained.
“The digital world is fast, but ephemeral,” Safire noted.
The talk proved popular with students, including visual communication majors and many others who take art classes alongside their chosen major.
For more on the Mount’s CMA Gallery, visit www.msmc.edu/cmagallery