Ioannis Sicuya’s exhibit “Wanderer in the Labyrinth” is all about the human quest for meaning in a world often perceived as mysterious and unknown. The exhibit explores existential questions through a unique artistic lens. 

Sicuya’s inspiration stems from a fascination with humanity’s inherent curiosity. “I have always been drawn to the unknown and the mysterious,” he explains. “I find it interesting, our need to analyze and explain and make sense of everything around us, which is made all the more fascinating by the fact that our observations are limited by the boundaries of our perception.” 

This drive to understand, he suggests, is both a survival mechanism and a deeper philosophical pursuit, leading us to grapple with questions of purpose and significance.

A central symbol in the exhibition is the imperfect and unfinished map made of non-sag epoxy, graphite, and wood. “Up until recently we have to rely on the information that our senses receive to paint the full picture of reality, so the pieces that are vague or obscure we tend to fill up with our imagination,” says Sicuya. These maps represent the uncharted territories of existence, the aspects of life that remain beyond our grasp and understanding. He draws connection to the historical practice of labeling unknown areas on maps with warnings like “here be dragons,” highlighting the human tendency to project our fears and certainties onto the unknown.

The creation of “Wanderer in the Labyrinth” presented its own set of challenges. Sicuya, whose previous work focused on miniature landscapes, shifted his focus to more existential themes. “For this exhibit, I tried to delve more into the existential questions and philosophical musings that have been in my mind for quite some time now,” he says. He also incorporated new techniques, experimenting with composition and image-making in both 2D and 3D forms. 

Sicuya identifies strongly as a wanderer, both as an artist and as an individual. He connects his personal journey of navigating life’s uncertainties with the broader themes of the exhibit, comparing life to an incomplete map or a board game with unspecified rules and undefined prizes. This sense of wandering is further amplified by reflections of the pandemic, current political climates, and personal experiences of aging. While the artist acknowledges a connection to his previous work in terms of technical refinement, he also emphasizes the thematic departure, focusing more explicitly on existential questions and philosophical musings. 

Ultimately, Sicuya hopes that visitors will leave the exhibit with a sense of awe and wonder. “In every exhibit that I have put up, it is always my hope that my audience leaves with a sense of awe and wonder, that they will be inspired to see things in a different way and maybe to be inspired to add creativity in some aspects of their own life.”

“Wanderer in the Labyrinth” by Ioannis Sicuya runs until Feb. 5 at Provenance Art Gallery, Shangri-La The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.