WHATIFTHEWORLD is pleased to present a selection of works by seven contemporary artists: Cathy Abraham, Mia Chaplin, Maja Marx, Michele Mathison, John Murray, and Lyndi Sales. Together, these artists challenge traditional approaches to structured thinking, embracing the power of fluid thought as a gateway to the unseen. A sense of abstraction pervades the selection, drawing attention to non-linear creation and the intersection of daydreaming and artistic expression.

Transforming daydreams into recognisable facets of lived reality is no easy feat, therefore, one is urged to reconcile the value and role of the artist, as an active manifester and resistor of fixed meaning. Daydreaming, at its core, channels the human unconscious, but at a deeper level, it serves as a complex tool for communication, shaping reality through artistic practice. Viewers are encouraged to explore forms of ‘mental mysticism,’ as expressed through the following artists: Cathy Abraham employs a subtle palette and meditative repetition in her process to transform past traumas into symbols of the miraculous. Her process includes the use of a symbolic size 8 brush, reflecting her deep contemplation as she addresses personal suffering, thereby providing form to otherwise formless traumas of the past. 

Mia Chaplin, with rich impasto brushwork, revisits historical representations of femininity while exploring the dialogues between sexuality, intimacy, and violence, using materiality and movement to present fresh perspectives. Michele Mathison casts a lens on labour dynamics, urban decay, and economic inequality through abstract forms. His deep understanding of materiality, sourced from sub-Saharan African minerals and artefacts, engages notions of form and functionality. John Murray balances playfulness and seriousness in his vibrant geometric abstractions, incorporating ephemera from everyday life to spark viewer-specific reactions.

How does one make the unconscious conscious? Lyndi Sales provides insight into her process of psychic meditation, inspired by sacred plant medicine rituals. Her intricate works radiate the impact of psychoactive properties, offering ways to release old thought patterns and recover from psychological trauma. Finally, Maja Marx explores ‘visual vibrations’ through her meticulous observation, transposing the act of looking into optical activations on canvas. At the core of her practice is a laborious process of creation, as she maps ‘found compositions’ and transforms them into self-referential fields of introspection. These works urge viewers to step beyond the visible, engaging in a journey where art becomes a bridge between the unconscious and the tangible. Each piece offers a new pathway to understand, reflect, and reimagine the realities we navigate, encouraging us to consider the artist’s role in both shaping and challenging our collective perceptions.

Selected artworks available for viewing at Booth Dark Blue 10.  For further inquiries, please contact Eleonora Marforio at eleonora@whatiftheworld.com.