Lena Guberman’s Emotive Sculptures Call Upon Childhood Social Anxiety

For any of us who are shy or anxious about interacting with others in the outside world, we might think of the face we “put on” that enable us to feel less fearful. For Lena Guberman (previously), a recent series of ceramic sculptures titled INS_IDE_OUT delves into her childhood experiences with social anxiety and the uncertainties of the unknown.

“The mask provides a protective shell and presents a ‘perfect’ appearance to the outside world but fails to stop the fears and emotions from bursting out,” Guberman tells Colossal.

Each piece is modeled on the same melancholy face of a young, brown-haired girl, with painted and sculpted elements that range from spikes to arrows to a dead bird. Emotionally evocative and sometimes slightly unsettling, her sculptures explore the spectrum of feelings associated with anxiety.

Guberman is currently planning a project that expands upon her use of ceramics by adding other materials. See more work on her website, Instagram, and Behance.

a ceramic mask with the face of a young girl with brown hair, with numerous arrows sticking out of her face

a ceramic mask with the face of a young girl with brown hair, with a small figure of another girl standing on the head, wearing a red-and-white striped dress

a gif of a ceramic mask with the face of a young girl with red stars and creatures painted on it

a ceramic mask with the face of a young girl with brown hair in braids that are engulfing her face

a ceramic mask with the face of a young girl with brown hair and a very long, skinny red tongue draped from her mouth

a figure holds a small ceramic mask in front of their face, featuring a white finish and spikes protruding from its surface

a ceramic mask with the face of a young girl whose hair is raising up in a flame-like tendril

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Lena Guberman’s Emotive Sculptures Call Upon Childhood Social Anxiety appeared first on Colossal.