Female Power and Choice
Southern Connecticut State University
Earl Hall, Second Floor Gallery
April 20, 2018-May 10, 2018
This series is entitled Female Power and Choice. Through drawing, I explore issues of femininity, choice, and power through subject matter, style, and color. I have included three sub-series: the Fertility Pears, an Exploration of the Orifice, and Vaginal Abstractions. The Fertility Pears are a series of three, representing fertility, infertility, and lost pregnancy. The colors used in each piece are carefully chosen to further the symbolism of each piece. The Exploration of the Orifice series includes three realistic drawings of the mouth where the lips are open and an obstacle obstructs access to the void. Finally, the Vaginal Abstractions are large scale zoom-ins of female genitalia.
This series of drawings provokes a conversation about feminist issues in modern American society. Using scale and color to convey a strong message about the female role, I chose to acknowledge issues that are relevant in the lives of American women. The series is inspired by the feminist art movement as well as themes of female choice. Each piece in the series has something to do with a woman’s choice, whether it is her choice to rebel, her choice to own femininity, or situations where her choices are limited. Inspiration for the bold color choices come from various sources, including the works of Georgia O’Keeffe and neon lighting. The medium and style of the pieces is realism in pastel, to communicate meticulous control of a very loose medium.
Exploration of the Orifice
#TIMESUP
Force
Gasp
Pastel on Paper
Each piece in the Exploration of the Orifice series represents a situation in which a woman’s choices are limited. The series includes three realistic drawings of the mouth where the lips are open and an obstacle obstructs access to the void. “#TIMESUP” refers to sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, an issue recently brought to light by Hollywood. “Force” includes the teeth as the barrier, symbolizing a woman’s physical ability to protect herself. “Gasp” showcases a clear cellophane over the mouth, a material which is selectively protective. It is not porous, but it is not a powerful blockade, much like assault prevention tactics used in our society.
These three pieces are depicted in a bright, neon color palette as a way to illuminate the issue. The problems discussed in these pieces are often silenced, and through the use of brightly colored pastels, they cannot be ignored.
Fertility Pears
Uterus no.1 (Fertile)
Uterus no.2 (Infertile)
Uterus no.3 (Lost)
Pastel on paper
The Fertility Pears each represent a different stage in fertility: fertility, infertility, and lost or terminated pregnancy. One of the most powerful thing that the female body can achieve is the creation of human life. Even today, women are often forced to relinquish control over their own fertility by their spouses, medical professionals, or society in general. Often biological struggles such as infertility or miscarriage are taboo, resulting in shame, guilt, and loneliness for the woman experiencing the trauma.
I chose the pear to symbolize the uterus because of its shape, which is similar to the uterus. I also chose to use fruit as a representation of the decaying nature of life. Fruit is perishable, and over time even the fertile woman becomes barren. In each piece, the pear is cupped by female hands, indicating the delicate nature of fertility, and also a woman’s protection over her own body.
Vaginal Abstractions
Untitled 6
Untitled 3
Untitled 7 (Origin of the World)
Untitled 4
Untitled 5
Untitled 1 (Lips)
Untitled 2
Pastel on paper
The Vaginal Abstractions are 7 large zoom-in drawings of female genitalia. Each piece showcases a different view and color palette. The pieces are drawn in a style which portrays a silicone, rubberized texture in an effort to highlight the objectification of women and female sexuality. The pieces were inspired by an effort to expose and reclaim the male gaze by a female hand. They are not intended to be sexual images. They are composed to highlight only the natural beauty of the female body and the form of the skin. As members of modern society, it is expected that these pieces may be perceived as shocking or graphic, which only highlights society’s portrayal of the female body as a sex object.