Reflections of the Abyss: Artistic Explorations of Metamorphosis and the Gaze

Authors: Zeekeyi Denison Yibowei (Ph.D.)

Affiliation: Department of Fine and Applied Arts Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island Bayelsa State

Corresponding Author: [email protected]

April 10, 2026

SIAR-Global Journal of Arts & Humanities

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19513576

Reflections of the Abyss: Artistic Explorations of Metamorphosis and the Gaze
Commentary Arts & Humanities

Abstract

This studio-based investigation navigates the psychoanalytical ontology of the mind, foregrounding psychological mirroring as a pivotal mechanism in delineating the fluid boundaries of selfhood. The individual emerges as the sovereign artist of their metamorphic self-portrait, scripting trajectories of renewal and rediscovery through introspective insight. Grounded in the dialectics of association and dissociation (Freud, 1914), the research catalyzes an ongoing negotiation between fragmented and cohesive aspects of the psyche. Drawing upon Lacan's 'mirror stage' (1949), the study illuminates imaginary identifications central to the formation of the ideal ego and identity negotiation. Expressionist digital paintings (2025) depicting multiple mirrors reflecting disparate self-versions underscore the interplay of association, dissociation, and embodied selfhood (Merleau-Ponty, 1945). Warm and cool chromatic tensions (yellow ochre, red, blue) convey the affective charge of encountering mirrored multiplicities. Bridging psychoanalytic (Freud, Lacan) and phenomenological perspectives, the artworks instantiate the vicissitudes of self-formation, inviting viewers to weave narrative tapestries from enigmatic reflections of subjective compositions. Interpretation is posited as a creative act of selfengagement, distilling personal meaning from the dialectical interplay of introspection and mirrored facets of the psyche. Ultimately, the research underscores the agentic capacity of individuals to craft self-narratives amidst the reflective oscillations between reality constructs and imaginative reconfigurations. 

Keywords

Psychoanalytic Ontology, Psychological Mirroring, Metamorphic Self-Portrait, Introspective Insight, Subjective Compositions, Association and Dissociation

Full Article

 Download Full Article (PDF)

How to Cite

Zeekeyi Denison Yibowei (Ph.D.) (2026). Reflections of the Abyss: Artistic Explorations of Metamorphosis and the Gaze. SIAR-Global Journal of Arts & Humanities, Vol. 2, No. 1. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19513576

Share This Article

Facebook LinkedIn

Article Information

  • Type: Commentary
  • Journal: SIAR-Global Journal of Arts & Humanities
  • Subject Area: Arts & Humanities
  • Published: April 10, 2026
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 1
  • Word Count: Not specified
  • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19513576
  • Processing Fee: $50.00 USD

Related Articles

Translation of French Proverbs into English and Yoruba: …
Eunice Modupe FABIYI (Ph.D)
Economic Implications of the Twitter Suspension in Nigeria: …
Beauty Okuboere Niyekpemi & Zion Stephen Ekainsai

About This Journal

SIAR-Global Journal of Arts & Humanities

The SIAR-Global Journal of Arts & Humanities (GJAH) is an official academic outlet of the Society of Innovative Academic Researchers …

View Journal Submit to Journal