Portfolio

Artist Statement 

My work relates to Medusa who in Greek myth was a servant of Athena, she was punished by the Goddess for being raped by Poseidon, I chose to show her as a religious figure to imply her innocence and her unchanging worth. My argument here is that sexual assault victims do not lose their value as individuals because of what someone else did to them. It is meant to combat the notion that they have somehow cursed themselves. I’ve brought attention to the concept of self-care because without it, recovery is not possible however, our society shames women for practicing it. It sets up a system that keeps feminine individuals in bondage to their trauma. I chose to Recreate Medusa through a combination of the Disney princess, Artemisia Gentileschi’s portrayal of women, and the common girly girl to give Medusa her character that exists to empower feminine survivors. By making her girly and the work offensively feminine in its color and iconography it creates a safe space where individuals can feel empowered and visualize the power of femininity.

Within my process, I try to find a balance between soft and rough, trauma, and recovery while also redirecting the culturally established notion of femininity as something weak, compliant, and unprofessional to something that is strong, independent, and does not need to compromise itself to achieve its goals in society. Media has encouraged the image of the sexual assault survivor who becomes cold, hateful, and full of turmoil. I believe this creates a hopeless image for those in recovery. I want my viewers to see the sexual assault victim as not a casualty but as a survivor who has lifted themselves up and experienced healing. The work is a reminder that recovery is possible. I have chosen playful imagery and soft materials to allow these topics to be easier to consume. I use rough craftsmanship as a protective veil that keeps the work from falling into gender stereotypes while also being an expression of trauma in the way fabric resembles the human body. Just like us, it can also be damaged and mended.

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