The Projected Self
Does our private selfdiffer from what we project into the world? Do our projected selves mask our authentic identities? The projected self breaks from our authentic identity and transmits an image of our own fabrication into society. As creators of the projected self, we direct our devised image. Thus, the projected selfcontains our hopes, aspirations, and desires. It is composed of our values, opinions, and beliefs, but also of our troubles, anxieties, and animosities. Given the transmissive nature of this self, artists also project their own messages through the subject of their portraits. Although the reasons for these projections may vary, all of the artists featured in this section actively determined and crafted them. The aim of the portrait as projected self ultimately is to communicate meaning from the artist, through the subject, and to the viewer.
