Captivity and Freedom may seem like straightforward subjects, but on reflection encompass the struggles of the human condition throughout the ages. In the 21st Century, how humanity treats itself and other creatures' liberties is generally seen as a reflection of how well a society is doing. Right now, most of the developed world abhors slavery while also inadvertently turning a blind eye to the modernisation of the industry and the impacts it is still having in our lives now. Simply banning a practice does not stop it from happening. The want to take away somebody's freedom for the sake of labour or convenience has been heavily set in human history, such as in Ancient Egypt or the Roman Empire, to more modern examples, such as the Atlantic Slave Trade. Nowadays, our need for justice and revenge feeds the modern incarceration system.
Captivity may refer to physical confinement or entrapment, but could also regard the psychological constraints we put on ourselves, consciously or subconsciously. There are positive and negative aspects within the boundaries of captivity that may exist simultaneously. Governments develop laws in response to an agreed consensus within society, yet these generalised laws may prevent large swaths of the population from experiencing independence and freedom in many aspects of their lives, especially if the governing body has been corrupted by corporations and greed, for example. The same can be said for religion; moral guidelines can become crushing if there is no room for freedom of movement or free thought. A person needs room to form their own ideas and beliefs within the framework of their realities in order to feel liberated in their own lives.
Sometimes, when seeking safety in rules, we can act against our own interests if we lack the understanding and foresight to act otherwise. This is especially apparent in children who lack the knowledge and experience for full self-reflection. The way our inner world develops due to social and environmental factors and the threats our brain interprets directly correlates with our outer behaviours and interactions. Sometimes, these controlling behaviours can develop into anxious or depressive conditions or disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Eating Disorders. Medication or therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may be introduced to control these symptoms.
Freedom denotes an unrestrained and untethered ability to choose one's path in life and the boundaries with which we define these realities. Without constraints, anarchy ensues, which often leads to mayhem on a societal level. Interestingly, anarchy as a political and societal ideology contradicts itself by allowing pure individual liberty on the basis that the individual commits themselves to the confines of working in the community without hierarchal structures, which in itself defies its own definition.
Freedom of speech comes hand in hand with the right to protest and the right to assembly, inviting development, collaboration, adaptation and compromise, including against oppressive or controlling forces or governing bodies. While there are always people in power who will capitalise on exploiting others, there are equally as many who oppose such thinking. Historical activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Madela fought against the control and oppression of marginalised peoples who had lost their most basic of human rights to colonisers and more economically developed nations.
Contemporary Art encompasses the ideas of freedom and captivity within the very core of society. Building on the ideas and atrocities that weave throughout history, art redevelops and redefines repeated narratives to reflect current societal issues. By studying how we constrain ourselves and, therefore, define our freedoms, this can be translated into art that offers both familiarity and innovation when addressing complex issues that contain opposing factors.
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