Looking Glass Self: A Solo Show by Ian Harmon
We are thrilled to present Looking Glass Self: How the Mind Shapes the Body, a solo show by emerging artist Ian Harmon. Ian’s work is inspired by the looking glass self, a concept in sociology about how we view ourselves through the eyes of others. In this spirit, the exhibition will feature paintings, prints, and pottery arranged around reflective surfaces, forcing the viewer to see fragmented versions of themselves and to perhaps question their own preconceived perceptions. Ian wants to challenge the way we interact with the world around us as well as our place within it.
“It’s really important to understand that there are hundreds of ways this painting could have gone, this is not the only way this could have been. A lot of it depended on my mood, a lot of it depended on my brushes, on the weather. By having mirrors, you get to see fragments of the artwork before you arrive at it.”
- Ian Harmon (he/him)
Painting is a mindfulness practice for Ian. He approaches the canvas with a free-flowing hand, letting his doodles lead in and out of a figurative form, abstracted with bright swatches of bold color and composed of small patterns. His canvases and clay face jugs are self-portraits but his works are made by letting the internal channel out rather than reflecting the exterior self as perceived via an external surface. Ian Harmon is an industrial design student at GA Tech. Originally from Lilburn, he was the president of his high school’s National Art Honor Society, during which time he also produced a 2-D and 3-D portfolio. He looks forward to getting to see his body of work displayed side-by-side.
Looking Glass Self: How the Mind Shapes the Body will be on view May 27th - May 3st via donation-based timed tickets at The Bakery South Downtown. All ticket funds raised will help support the Bakery’s ongoing programming. Tickets can be reserved here or at www.thebakeryatlanta.com. This show is facilitated by Ian Harmon and The Bakery. Attendees must wear a mask the entire time they are inside the building.
