Subconscious Playground

Subconscious Playground is an exploration of human psychology, offering an alternative reality that strips away the illusion of normalcy to reveal a more complex, sometimes dark, yet playful perspective on our subconscious.

Allen’s work moves seamlessly between figuration and abstraction, culminating in fully abstract pieces, reflecting the shifting boundaries between our conscious and unconscious minds. Through her sculptural practice, she examines the tension between intellectual aptitude and primal instinct, as well as the way personal and inherited experiences shape individual identity.

Joanna Allen’s signature sculptural language incorporates recurring motifs such as distorted forms, floating ovoid or egg-like heads, and dissecting planes. While her abstract works move beyond literal representation, they retain a figurative presence, reminding us that we are ultimately confronting the complexities of the human psyche. The play between fluid, buoyant forms and harsher, jagged elements underscores the duality within the self. The materials she employs - patinated bronze, bold ink lines, and layered strokes of paint - enhance the dreamlike and surrealist quality of her practice, evoking both ancient and futuristic aesthetics.

A key element of Allen’s process is her use of mindful meditation to access the subconscious. Through blindfolded, one-stroke drawing sessions, she develops what she calls psychomorph-shapes that often take on personal or archetypal significance. Whether these forms function as a Rorschach-like reflection of the mind or emerge from deeper psychological imprints remains an open question. Her engagement with the subconscious places her work in conversation with the legacy of Surrealism, a movement historically dedicated to uncovering the hidden depths of human thought.