“The soul, as a universal archetype, is the foundation of all human experience.”
-- James Hillman
Most dictionaries define the word "archetype" as the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies. Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung, defined archetypes as the universal, inborn models of people, behaviors, and personalities that play a role in influencing human behavior.
Franck de las Mercedes painted people who have ties or reside in upper Manhattan and assigned each an archetypal role based on their life narrative, occupation or calling.
Painted during his residency at Art on the Ave, in Inwood, each work is a visual gateway exploring the complexities of the collective unconscious, and the process of active imagination.
By tapping into archetypal roles and reformulating them as contemporary figures,
'Uptown Arquetípico' can be viewed as a mirror for our human condition. It is a contemplative series developed to acquaint the viewer with the realm of archetypes, and a path for discovery or interaction with a latent archetype within.
Each artwork conveys a message that serves as a key to unlock the inner strength needed to conquer the challenges of a fast-paced life. The new paintings offer a standpoint for each person to reflect on meaning and self-realization, through the art of a new urban archetype.