Monica-Lucia Madas

This research explores the mind as a curatorial site and examines the image as a dynamic, living symbol. Through a practice-based methodology that draws from fine art, depth psychology, and visual culture studies, the project investigates how images function not just as representations but as active, evolving symbols that shape and reflect consciousness.

The image, understood in its Jungian sense as a living symbol, will be examined not merely as a representational artifact but as an active participant in the art, curatorial and therapeutic processes.

The research introduces and operationalizes curatorial methods such as spatial arrangement, thematic grouping, symbolic juxtaposition, and narrative sequencing as tools for exploration and integration. These methods will be examined through art-based interventions and reflective dialogue, offering insights into how individuals engage with, transform, and present their inner symbolic worlds.

This approach also extends the field of art-based research (ABR) by integrating curatorial thinking not only as an output method (e.g., exhibitions) but as a mode of inquiry and intervention in its own right. Moreover, the study challenges traditional distinctions between artist, therapist and curator by proposing a transdisciplinary model in which these roles become fluid, collaborative, and symbolic. In doing so, it contributes a new vocabulary and set of methodologies for exploring how inner psychological content can be externalized, organized, and shared.

The aim is to create a body of studio and curatorial practice that addresses the interplay between internal psychic landscapes and external image-worlds, ultimately questioning whether the mind itself can be understood—and exhibited—as a work of art.

Names of Supervisors: 

• Dr Paul Liam Harrison
• Dr Shaleph O’Neill