Below are all the art pieces that were selected to be displayed in the Dibner Art Showcase with the artist's description about why they feel the piece fits the theme of Self. Congratulations to all of our wonderful and talented participants!
You can find these art pieces on display in the Bern Dibner Library from mid-November 2023 to early-May 2024.
"I am... not going down!" by Ashna Mali, BFA in Interactive Media Arts '26
Why is it easier to relate more to a cartoon than your own image in the mirror? It's true; when you look at a simple face, it's easier to project and see yourself as that poor little guy swallowed by the ocean. But I made him mad because I'm mad; it's easier to be myself, outraged and unserious, through a funny face than in my own human skin. You too, are invited to connect with the self you can be outside of the limits of your tangible existence.
"Mon Ami" by Ami Cai, MFA in Game Design '24
Mon Ami, a collection of writings, photographs, and illustrations that depict the various stories and reflections I had over the summer of 2019.
"The Book You were Never Supposed to Read" by Ami Cai, MFA in Game Design '24
This was a physical zine that was small enough to fit in my pocket to replicate the pushed away thoughts of queer pining and my journey in exploring that part of myself.
"Experimental Analysis of All Men" by Aaron Keser, BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering '26
If you strip down two people who identify as men to the way they feel about their gender, the biological differences of being assigned male at birth or being assigned female at birth start to become moot. Add in the idea of a hormonal and medical transition, and the lines between "biological male" and "biological female" become even more blurred. Asking an "expert" about gender differs on what expert you ask, paving the way for true self-determination outside of the medical office. After all, even if the current medical literature supports trans people, the courtrooms don't, and so the only person I have left to please is myself, therefore allowing me to share with every fellow man, cis or trans, that I am just another one of them.
The "self" can be built by the help of others, but also tied down by the others.Are we truly owners of our own story? We may be the heroine of our own book, but how often do we allow our surroundings dictate how we are defined?
"Destroy on Sight" by Emmy Andrews, MS in Integrated Design and Media '24
I was inspired by the phrase we were all told in regards to the invasive species the spotted lantern flies. I am not from Brooklyn, and sometimes being a transplant can feel like being an invasive species. This piece is also about working with what you have, the intentionality of happiness, and the imperfection of day to day life in New York City.
"Heaven to a Hell" by Micah Rauchon, BFA in Theater '25
"Highway to Her" by Swati Sharma, MS in Applied Urban Science and Informatics
"Highway to Her" is a captivating artwork that captures the longing of a long-distance couple." Amid the dazzling NYC skyline, a solitary student strolls under the luminous night sky, consumed by yearning for their distant lover as the iconic movie scene from "Her" comes to life in his mind with the lovers adorned in traffic cones, sharing a moment of playful bliss. Above them, an exaggerated full moon illuminates the sky, with whimsical goldfish swimming amidst the stars, a nod to the timeless lyrics, "Two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year." This artwork beautifully portrays the bittersweet journey of a love that transcends physical distance, with the highway symbolizing the path down memory lane towards their cherished connection. Highway to Her" masterfully intertwines the emotion-laden lines of Joan Larkin's poem "Want." that go like: “She’s in her city, meeting her deadline; I’m in my mill village out late with the dog, listening to the pinging wind bells, thinking of the twelve years of wanting, apart and together. We’ve kissed all weekend; we want to drive the hundred miles and try it again.”
"Broken" by Harini Vijayavallaban, MS in Construction Management
Sometimes the Heart just goes numb doesn't it ? It stops feeling ! People would call you names and it wouldn't even bother you. Why ? Cause they don't see the trauma the soul has felt behind it's actions. They only see the superficial layer and assume. But is there any redemption for a soul that's a gone case ? Scarred so badly that it stopped displaying emotions ? That it hid it all under a beautiful smile ? Don't know !
"Monster" by Harini Vijayavallaban, MS in Construction Management
We are all broken beyond repair. We are all afraid to let people in.Scared that if they were to let us down too, What then ?, We are tired of being broken over and over again,We are at the point where there is no trust anymore and the worst part about all this is the fact that the ones who are closest to us hurt us the most. The ones we trust tend to betray us in unforeseen ways. Why ? Only they'll know. From their point of view they'll seem right but from ours ?? Never. Then we start collecting our broken pieces and store them in a glass jar on the high shelf only for it to be broken again. Cause this stupid heart doesn't learn does it ??? No matter how many walls we build to isolate us from the society, it still gives that one person the sole rights to destroy our very being. It's human nature. This is who we are. We love the pain even though we say other wise.
Eczema has affected my overall self-image. When it acts up, I lose control of myself and feel uglier, scratchier, and uncomfortable. Also feel more vulnerable and exposed.
"Let's leave." by Justin Liu, BS in Mathematics '25
Three pieces of myself: one is girly and likes to depend on others, one is nonchalant and cold to the world, one is mature and is the voice of reason. These are reflected in their outfits and poses. Outside is a starry night sky because that is my vibe. The map is a mess because I am lost, but we must leave at our stop.
"Loneliness 2" by Justin Liu, BS in Mathematics '25
Sitting on a flying surfboard with a cat, above and away from everyone else. It is lonely but peaceful. Even when lonely, nature watches and listens.
"My Journey" by Marjiyah Ibshor, BS in Biomolecular Science '27
A bridge paints itself onto the center of the canvas; each plank telling the tales of the small journeys that shaped the person I am today. From crossing over strong tides to reaching the bountiful island, I've expressed the obstacles I overcame in my quest for self-improvement. The sun, molded into the shape of a heart, symbolized my self love as the guiding light of my journey. This journey has been one I've often had to traverse alone, giving meaning to "self"—a testament to my independent growth.
"Self" by Vincenzo Miguel Gallegos, BS in Applied Physics '26
This writing describes the intangibility and enigma of one's self and how others' efforts describe you as words or other abstract representations fail. It discusses how you can never really know yourself due to not knowing the infinite possibilities you could be, but also accepting who you are because of where you came from, deciding who you are in the moment, and where your future lies.
"Self Portrait" by Seb Fousse, BS in Computer Science '24
An audio-visual portrait generated from 900 images of me as an infant, toddler, child, teenager, and adult. The visual is loosely synced to spliced audio from assorted childhood home videos. If you took an average of my digital presence, this is what you might get.
"String Theory" by Stephanie Shi, BS in Mechanical Engineering '27
My mind, like String Theory, is intertwined with strings that bind every facet of myself together. Although this jumble of threads appears chaotic, it eventually turns into my complex mind. The sparrows at the top reflect the order and connectedness element of String Theory, while the strings attached to the fragments of myself are the fundamental building blocks.
"True Reflections" by Stephanie Shi, BS in Mechanical Engineering '27
A shiny piece of plastic, an aluminum tin, or the windows of a store. All of these items can reflect your image. This reflecting image that peoples perceive is merely the physical form of oneself; it does not portray our inner self: the things that make you, you. The ballerina's shadow represents her reflection, while who she truly is emerges from the mirror, representing her true colors.
"Split Second" by Stephanie Shi, BS in Mechanical Engineering '27
In today's fast-paced society, many only see others on a surface level, frequently as a blur that passes by. We can get wrapped up in our lives and neglect to perceive ourselves on a deeper level. People's essences are captured, much like moments captured by a camera, when a moment is taken to appreciate themselves. I viewed the concept of "self" through this lens and portrayed it through a contrasting art style.
"Collaborative Self" by NYU Brooklyn campus students
Students on NYU Brooklyn campus were asked to create a piece of art that they felt represented the theme “Self”. The pieces were then collaged together by the Dibner Art Showcase Student Curators. This is what we came up with. Together.
