AustLit

EGO is a self-reflective, Buddhist art work in which Oppen reveals the tight boundaries that we build around ourselves through egotistic thoughts and behaviours. Through rubber stamp text, Oppen uncovers aspects of ego in order to prompt thoughts and actions that lay beyond the inflexible constraints of a 'big ego.'

'Attachment to our ego is the cause of huge suffering. By writing out the aspects of the ego onto paper and containing them in a box is a way of reminding myself that it is possible to move beyond the limiting framework by which my ego defines itself' (Monica Oppen, Bibliotheca Librorum apud Artificem catalogue).