ALEXANDRA MICHAEL
Alexandra Michael explores the function of hierarchy in society, which is exercised by formal institutions. She focuses on the powerful religious ideologies, that influence people’s behaviour and actions. Her practice aims to question what people do in order to reach the greatness of God.
Her artworks include semiotic referencing and allegories to manifest this complicated concept. She often gives as an example the act of sacrament, a powerful act in religious circles. Alexandra also relates her concept to inner hierarchy, in other words the primitive driving forces which derive from the unconscious. She questions if some of the unconscious driving forces come from the religious preaching, or simply from the inner hierarchy of needs.
In addition Alexandra investigates transcendence in relation to death and afterlife. Her artworks join the idea of otherness with the idea of self-transcendence.
Finally, painting is the key medium to communicate and express her complex concept to the beholder. This is accomplished by a layering process in which images are positioned one on top of the other.
