From the Block: Self-Portrait with the 3rd Eye 2012

Editor: This is Alfred Freddy Krupa's "From the Block: Self-Portrait with the 3rd Eye," a pencil drawing from 2012. It’s a striking portrait, and the third eye is a little unnerving, but intriguing. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, let’s consider the artist’s identity, first. Krupa, living and working in a region deeply marked by conflict, paints a self-portrait inviting questions about seeing, knowing, and being. The 'third eye' immediately brings Eastern philosophies to mind. Editor: So, you’re suggesting this isn’t just a bizarre stylistic choice? Curator: Precisely! How does the symbol of the third eye—often linked to intuition, perception beyond ordinary sight, and spiritual awakening—play against the historical realities faced by someone from the Balkans? Might this be about seeking a deeper understanding amidst the chaos and violence of the region? Is the artist imbuing himself with the responsibility to observe history with the kind of transcendental clarity not easily available? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. I was so focused on the literal image. It definitely gives the title a new weight: "From the Block," not just the artist, but from a specific place, a perspective. Curator: Exactly. Krupa, in giving himself a third eye, makes a bold declaration, and encourages the viewer to seek out truths beyond the surface. How can we 'see' beyond dominant narratives? What does it mean for an artist to depict their own consciousness as possessing the power of higher awareness and judgement, to navigate traumatic events? Editor: It makes me think about how artists use their work to process not just personal experiences, but collective ones. This work is less about ego and more about offering testimony. I’ll never see a self-portrait quite the same way! Curator: I agree. The self becomes a lens through which history and identity are examined, and perhaps, a more liberated future imagined.