Cadence Dutchyn
“The Characters”
As humans, we are inherently driven to assign meaning to our surroundings. Whether it is the concrete or the abstract, the external or the internal, the familiar or the unknown, we find significance in everything. This act of meaning-making is a fundamental aspect of "The Characters" as it explores the meanings and values we assign to an individual's character based on their outward appearance. Essential to this investigation is philosopher David Hume's belief that character is deemed virtuous or vicious upon the specific pleasure or unease our interpretation evokes. Consequently, these representations may be interpreted as malevolent, benevolent, whimsical, or nightmarish, blurring the lines between the extremes of our perception of character.
"The Characters" aims to illuminate a perceivable identity and recognizable virtue in the people present in the images. In doing so, it not only invites but demands the viewer to engage in empathy, open-mindedness, inner knowledge, and imaginative interpretation.
About the artist
Cadence Dutchyn is a surrealist artist based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Photo: Chaela Jade Dekteroff
LOcation: Outside the agriculture building
Find all Nuit Blanche Eve projects at the University of Saskatchewan campus. See the full map for more details.
