"The Myth of Success," is a thought-provoking collection by Nishant, otherwise known as Ego Dead. This collection was exhibited at Colonna Contemporary in July 2024. It challenges our perception of success and self-worth in the modern world. Ego Dead questions the foundations of achievement and identity in corporate America with this remarkable body of work.
Ego Dead, an Indian American artist originally from the Bay Area and now based in New York, brings a fresh perspective to the age-old question of what truly constitutes success. His work was born from a thesis he's been developing, and it dives deep into the concept of success, questioning whether success is material, tangible, or something more ethereal.
When entering the gallery, there's an immediate juxtaposition of corporate logos set against abstract pieces. This striking dichotomy serves as a visual representation of Ego Dead's journey with social expectations & individual expression.
The exhibition is structured in two parts: "Logomania" and "Clarity." The former depicts businesspeople who have lost their identities to the corporations they represent, while the latter shows a journey towards understanding success as an intangible, emotional state of being. This progression from concrete corporate imagery to abstract representations of interconnectedness mirrors Ego Dead's evolving perspective on achievement.
“The Myth of Success" offers a unique dual experience for viewers. The physical exhibition at Colonna immerses visitors in the tangible art, while the digital art is globally accessible on SuperRare, a blockchain platform for digital art.
In an exclusive interview with Stonez, Ego Dead shares the layers of his creative process. A narrative emerges that questions how we construct our identities in a world saturated with corporate ideals.
Stonez: Your work explores the paradox between societal pressure and individual expression. How do you personally navigate this tension as an artist?
Ego Dead: I don't know if I navigate it very well, because I just lean on individual expression. Societal pressures are there but I think understanding that you are the curator, and that your vision is the best vision for you is key. Everybody's intuition is their best guide.
Ego Dead’s commitment to self-expression is a reminder that we can be our authentic selves. He shared, "I'm so leaned in towards my intuition that I'm not even tripping about societal pressures. For example, maybe people want me to make art at a certain price, or maybe people want me to make art about a certain topic. But I'm not going to do that because I'm focused on self expression."
Stonez: In "Logomania," you depict the transformation of individuals within corporate environments. What inspired you to focus on this particular aspect of modern work life?
Ego Dead: I've had this gravitation towards the working person as an interesting muse. I've found this person to be somebody who's dedicated their entire lives to something that they don't know; something that they might never move up in. They've kind of become monks in a way to follow this path of achieving their 'God', which is money."
Ego Dead further explains, "I wanted to keep Logomania as something that feels like you're being absorbed by these logos, you become the logo, and that's the mania within.”
"The Illusion of Separateness," is one of the central pieces of the exhibition. Ego Dead expresses, "This piece is beautiful because it shows a moment where you're going over the fingers and you realize one of them is missing limbs, or isn't completed, or seems like he's merged with the others. And that's the purpose of the piece - to show that they are all one at the end of the day. It's all about being one."
Stonez: Your series progresses from materialistic to more abstract, existential concepts. How has creating this collection influenced your own definition of success?
Ego Dead: I really think that success is a state of being. I don't think it's related to material wealth, or a physical possession, or a certain career position. I think that success comes from truly loving and being present, and feeling pure bliss in the moment.
Ego Dead shares an anecdote about a South American fisherman to illustrate his point, "If the South American fisherman is so grateful for every moment, he's grateful for the moment that he's fishing for his family and gets it. He's making enough money to get food and everything so he's grateful. He's happy. That's success to me."
Stonez: What do you hope visitors will take away from this exhibition?
Ego Dead: Honestly, just find what success means to you. Just keep doing what you want to do. I think that self expressionism and intuition is the best leader.
The whole purpose of the exhibition is for you to reflect and think about, ‘What is success? What am I working for, what do I want to work for? What do I want for my family down the line?' I think all these things are things we should consider going forward in this crazy world that we live in."
As visitors leave Colonna Contemporary, they carry the visual impact of Ego Dead's art, and a renewed perspective on success, identity, and the pursuit of happiness in our modern world. "The Myth of Success'' serves as both a mirror and a window – reflecting our current values while offering a glimpse into a different way of measuring our worth and achievements.
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