In making art, I am interested in social aspects of human behavior that have been catalysts for our own evolution, as well as for the evolution of our society. I also address the idea of the “self” from a philosophically naturalist viewpoint, and the effect that both cultural and genetic pressures have on the individual.

In my paintings, I focus the actions of my figures on our species ability to dehumanize and sometimes even guiltlessly kill people from different groups. In my research I have found that far from being an aberration, this behavior comes somewhat naturally to us, and has played a major role in our evolution, helping to shape the way our present society has been organized. By portraying the dualistic nature of our genetic inclination to show true kindness and altruistic behavior towards those whom we consider within our social group, while at the same time acting with violence and dehumanization towards outsiders, I hope to dissuade people from political ideas that assume powerful groups in our society are responsible and benevolent enough to be left unrestrained.

Through printmaking, I address contemporary ideas on the nature of consciousness that attempt to “fill in” what philosophers and cognitive scientists call the mind-body gap, along with the individual’s reaction to the sometimes startling ideas espoused by naturalist philosophers that present a purely physical explanation of consciousness. I am particularly interested in the somewhat misguided apprehension that these ideas “explain away” the emotions and values that make us human, and how the individual deals with concepts that at first glance seem to threaten many people’s ego.

Although perhaps not overtly political, by making art that deals with these topics, I hope to help encourage a less faith based and more reason based understanding of our nature. I feel that the more we know about our evolved instincts towards both our individual and group behavior, the better we can understand and attempt to control the many problems these behaviors has created in our society.

-Benjamin Bertocci

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