Play Your Part: Social identity in the modern world
“Play Your Part” is an art project about how our identity is influenced by social interactions, groups and social roles. The work, made by artist and illustrator Els van den Bosch is an interactive installation/tryptich that invites the public to change and assemble the work with fitting tiles that each tell their own story. The work is based on the book ‘The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life’ by sociologist Erving Goffman, where he compares social interaction with theater. Each of the three panels showcases a different stage on which our social identity functions.
The work makes people aware of our social identity and social roles. Els hopes that after experiencing the piece people will be more considerate about the roles and stereotypes we give to each other.
Els is a versatile illustrator who makes both autonomous and commercial/commissioned work in multiple styles. She often works digitally, but is not shy to pick up a paintbrush either.