Selina
Viitanen
By the Window
Metamorphosis
In her latest work, through ideas of metamorphosis of the human-animal, she explores the ideas of suppression of the human condition and the dehumanising nature of contemporary society in which she observes a disconnect between the fulfilment of human needs and the way of our everyday lives.
This project draws inspiration from Franz Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’, and dives into a personal interaction of the piece, exploring the themes of mental health, development from adolescent to young adult, and family dynamics. Through the use of text, animation, video, and the use of animal imagery, Selina aims to capture the feelings of the other, the dehumanised, the neglected. The animal acts as a bridge between the human and the alienation felt by people who struggle with mental health. Yet, instead of using a vermin as a visual metaphor for the struggle as originally in the story of ‘Metamorphosis’, Selina chose to use the imagery of a cat.