Statement

Sleeping is a part of the day when I work the most. Our dreams may look like random scenarios and pictures put together but, based on Freud’s theories, dreams are manifestations of suppressed emotions and memories from the past. And dreaming is a way the body fulfils these emotions. But is it just that? According to Carl G. Jung there is more. Dreams are disguised messages from our subconscious. They can tell us how we truly feel.

In my practice, I try to analyse dreams and nightmares. They help me to get to the core of a being and see what is hidden in my subconscious. Often before a new project, I attempt to go into a hypnagogic state where I stay at the crossroads between waking and sleeping, thereby pushing the boundary between reality and the subconscious. In this state, I have waking dreams, also called hypnagogic hallucinations. These short-lasting pictures or sounds give me the first building block from which I can move on to another step. Sometimes they are related to my childhood or mental state and sometimes they refer to sociopolitical events.

In this digital era, where everything is so fast and we spend less and less time with each other but mostly less time with ourselves, we are forgetting that change comes from within and trying to analyse dreams might be an another way of self-care. If humanity wants a change, we should all start from the core. We need to rediscover what it feels like to be alive.

- Marius

Biography

Márius Záruba (b. 2001, Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia) is a visual artist based in Dublin. His interest in art began at primary school, where an art club teacher and visual artist, Pavel Petráš Jr., with his enthusiasm and philosophy, inspired him to start an artistic journey. Shortly after graduating from high school, he emigrated to Ireland for experiences, new opportunities, and ideas.

His interest in anatomy and psychology helps him to express his thoughts freely. In his work, he plays with the proportions and shapes of the human body and places us in his cold, dreamy landscapes. Using oil paints, he creates an anxious atmosphere with a true horror aesthetic. He builds a whole idea around his dreams and refers to sociopolitical struggles or mental health.