An Artist’s Guide to Philosophy: Emanuel de Carvalho’s Essential Reading

Portuguese-Canadian visual artist Emanuel de Carvalho’s paintings and sculptures challenge preconceptions as to how we perceive and relate to the world around us. With a background in medicine and neuro-ophthalmology, the artist uses his practice to research perception as a psychophysical phenomenon, exploring the ways in which it is shaped by social norms and constructs.

Drawing on this background as well as philosophies of being and perception, de Carvalho’s work is underpinned by his conviction that “within the fabric of societal constructs and established norms lies the potential for transformation — brought about not by sweeping revolutions, but by the subtle insurgency of ideas, narratives, and expressions.”

Coinciding with de Carvalho’s first solo exhibition at Gathering, London — titled code new state — the artist shares with Something Curated a selection of philosophical texts that have helped shape his practice. The below are de Carvalho’s words.

Stop Thief! Anarchism and Philosophy by Catherine Malabou

Transformation, plasticity, destruction — the philosophical dimensions of Catherine Malabou draw on the possibility of brains reshaping themselves, adaptation to environmental shifts, evaluative codes evolving over time. In her latest book, Stop Thief!, Malabou delves into anarchy as a political form that is uniquely suited to the fluidity of human existence, a state of perpetual reinvention. Her critique resonates especially today, as global calls for alternative political structures are reawakening.

The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness by Antonio Damasio

What makes us human? Antonio Damasio posits feelings are the source of human consciousness. We are human because we possess the ability to feel a feeling. In The Feeling of What Happens, a tripartite nature of human consciousness is proposed, characterised by three distinct aspects of the self. The proto-self is the starting point, an unconscious entity formed by a network of neural patterns that mirror the organism’s ever-changing state across different levels of the brain. The core self emerges when any external stimulus alters the proto-self. It remains relatively stable throughout one’s life and is consciously experienced, forming the foundation of core consciousness.

Lastly, the autobiographical self takes shape from memories and expectations of the future, gradually evolving over time. While having a core self is essential for developing an autobiographical self, the reverse is not always true; individuals may lose their autobiographical self while retaining their core consciousness. It is the autobiographical self that opens the door to a more intricate level of consciousness known as extended consciousness.

Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are by Joseph LeDoux

According to neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux, “we are our synapses.” This awareness, that selfhood relies on neural processing is, in my view, an important step in establishing a way of being that is open to change — a mode of existence in constant learning and evolution. LeDoux introduces a theory in which neurology and experiences mutually shape one another, with synapses between our neurons serving as a focal point. Their plasticity, moulded by individual experiences, gives rise to distinct thoughts and emotions, thereby forming the foundation of memory, self-perception, and personality.

Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others by Sara Ahmed

I often think about the intersection of objects, both inanimate and animate, when planning a composition — flesh and chiasm, according to the phenomenologist Merleau-Ponty. In Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others, Sara Ahmed analyses the significance of being oriented — toward and against objects, theories, cultures and genders, and how this line of orientation can prevent us from seeing other alternatives.

In this way, Ahmed poses “the question of the orientation of sexual orientation as a phenomenological question,” to “offer a new way of thinking about the spatiality of sexuality, gender, and race.” What happens when our orientation deviates toward objects that are not supposed to be there? Ahmed’s oeuvre has generated unique insights into the theorisation of difference and othering.

The Birth of the Clinic by Michel Foucault

Michel Foucault’s The Birth of the Clinic is a book about the “act of seeing, the gaze,” an investigation into space, language, and mortality. He frames this as an “archaeology of medical perception,” how medical understanding has evolved over time. Within this framework, Foucault identifies the emergence of the clinic as a pivotal moment in the trajectory of modernity.

Central to Foucault’s analysis is the concept of “the gaze,” which he posits as a fundamental aspect of medical perception. This gaze, he suggests, serves as a guiding force in the interpretation of signs, symptoms, and pathology, essentially shaping the boundaries of medical knowledge. However, Foucault also issues a cautionary note regarding the potential for this gaze to become overbearing, dominating the very individuals it seeks to understand. Does the gaze still hold the same authoritative sway in the present time?

Emanuel De Carvalho’s code new state runs at Gathering, London until 1 June 2024.



Feature image: Emanuel de Carvalho, ground lack, 2023 from code new state at Gathering, London, 26 April – 1 June 2024. Photography: Ollie Hammick. Courtesy of Gathering