Trascendence
BA Art Warm-Up – Foundation Course
2023
semester
Self-transcendence is, at its core, about transcending, or rising above, the self and relating to
that which is greater than the self. In simpler terms, it is the realization that you are one small
part of a greater whole, and acting accordingly.
According to the American psychologist Maslow, self-transcendence brings the individual
what he termed “peak experiences” in which they transcend their own personal concerns and
see from a higher perspective. These experiences often bring strong positive emotions like
joy, peace, and a well-developed sense of awareness.
Someone who is highly self-transcendent may also experience “plateau experiences” in which
they consistently maintain or enter a state of serenity and higher perspective.
The sculpture is an abstract depiction of the act of rising above the self in order to reach an higher perspective.