About
Elisa Chiocca D’Alfonso is a visual artist born in Toronto. Elisa has graduated from Ryerson University School of Image Arts, obtaining her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Photography.
Elisa has always had an interest in photography and portraiture, but it wasn’t until her post-secondary education that her photography veered into experimental, and conceptual art practices. Being exposed to artists such as Carolee Schneemann, Michael Snow, and Gregory Crewdson throughout her education, Elisa has developed an intense interest in portraiture, artificially constructed scenes, moving-image, and performance art. With formal training in studio and commercial photography, Elisa utilizes her knowledge of lighting in her creative practices. Themes within her work often surround that of the human condition, family, and self-evolution.
Through the artistic training received at Ryerson, Elisa extended her knowledge of the formal elements of art to explore the potential of illustration and painting. Each art piece derives from impactful personal experiences, emotions, and everyday encounters with art. Using symbolism to express such inspirations, Elisa's art often carries themes of the natural world.
The above photograph was created as a response to today’s social media society. The screens and information that have fragmented our minds and distorted our self-perception. The photos of ourselves that have become so far disconnected from who we truly are.
The portraits, almost unrecognizable by the end, force the viewer to pause, observe the image, and study it in order to make sense of what they are looking at; replicating our time-consuming tendency to obsessively pick ourselves apart and search for our identity.