ARTIST STATEMENT
“unsex me here” playfully represents dual experiences of womanhood: violence and vulnerability. In this alternate self-portrait, I bust through a button wall, symbolising women’s urges to deform the youthful feminine aspects of themselves, that may have led to victimisation. Despite childhood’s defencelessness, young girls are only armed with frocks and dresses, (represented through the buttons), which arouse the predators. To capture a conflict of gender and self, I’ve juxtaposed 2D and 3D; the gloves raised above the flatness of my body, indicating presence and urgency. Manipulated texture emphasises the ferocity and fury of a woman ripped from her natural state.
ARTWORK PROCESS
“Unsex Me Here” has been created through two major processes: experimental and emotional. The artwork began with two symbols at its core: a boxer and a young girl, however, the dynamic relationship established between these two elements would not be possible until I could confront the anger and loss motivating the personal context of this artwork. Once I had recognised my intimacy towards this artwork, I began with an acrylic painting as a base, slowly working upon each layer of dimension until I had multiple levels of media that reflected my own internal conflicts with femininity in each subtlety.
