In The Self & The Other, Ian Phillips-McLaren investigates identity through a contemporary reinterpretation of Roman portraiture. The project explores how the self is shaped by cultural memory and collective imagery — how we come to understand who we are by observing others.
Roman portraiture marked a shift in visual identity: abstract and hybrid forms emerged as reflections of changing values and social roles. Drawing on this transformation, Phillips-McLaren creates self-portraits using large-format analogue negatives combined with digital negatives of Roman sculpture, reimagining the historical self-portrait across time.
Like Picasso and De Chirico, who turned to classical forms in response to the anxieties of their own age, this series engages with historical material to illuminate the psychological architecture of selfhood in the present.
For a deeper reflection on the work’s Jungian influences and theoretical foundations, visit Ian Phillips-McLaren’s writings on theories of the self.
About the Artist
Ian Phillips-McLaren is a British interdisciplinary artist working across photography, painting, and analogue processes. His practice explores selfhood, cultural memory, and psychological symbolism. Alongside his fine art projects, he teaches and mentors in analogue photography, alternative processes, and experimental image-making. Discover more of his fine art projects, alternative photographic processes, and mentoring opportunities.
