Artwork description: This piece is my courageous leap into using my body to make replicas of body parts in glass. The piece is about the intimate exchange between the viewer and I; a symbolic exchange of trust. I am being literally transparent with my body, exposing vulnerable parts of myself. This is communicated by my use of juxtaposingly soft, opaque, and squishy fibers of wool and silk woven into organs, literally spilling my guts, exposing my flesh, and what lies underneath.
Artwork description long: This piece is my courageous leap into using my body to make replicas of body parts in glass. The piece is about the intimate exchange between the viewer and I; a symbolic exchange of trust. I am being literally transparent with my body, exposing vulnerable parts of myself. This is communicated by my use of juxtaposingly soft, opaque, and squishy fibers of wool and silk woven into organs, literally spilling my guts, exposing my flesh, and what lies underneath. This piece is also about the sense of uncomfortability we have with female bodies. The initial reaction is that seeing a female torso is taboo, something secret; if this torso was belonging to a man, the work would lose its significance. People would not be presented with a lingering feeling of ‘wrongness’ when looking or staring at the piece. We have conformed to the idea that seeing a female nipple or breast is inherently sexual. This correlation is not only damaging, it's predatory. Society rejects and insults her, while others sexualize and demean her. Even making this piece I felt a sense of fear in who would see this piece. Who am I allowing to see me? Who would take pictures? What would they do with those photos? Who would attempt to touch my body if not being watched? What were they thinking when looking at my body? My hopes are that the viewer can look past the feminine figure and instinctual thoughts of repulse or desire, and begin to ponder their relationship to natural bodies, finding meaning through my literal and metaphorical transparency with the audience.
Artwork description long: This piece is my courageous leap into using my body to make replicas of body parts in glass. The piece is about the intimate exchange between the viewer and I; a symbolic exchange of trust. I am being literally transparent with my body, exposing vulnerable parts of myself. This is communicated by my use of juxtaposingly soft, opaque, and squishy fibers of wool and silk woven into organs, literally spilling my guts, exposing my flesh, and what lies underneath. This piece is also about the sense of uncomfortability we have with female bodies. The initial reaction is that seeing a female torso is taboo, something secret; if this torso was belonging to a man, the work would lose its significance. People would not be presented with a lingering feeling of ‘wrongness’ when looking or staring at the piece. We have conformed to the idea that seeing a female nipple or breast is inherently sexual. This correlation is not only damaging, it's predatory. Society rejects and insults her, while others sexualize and demean her. Even making this piece I felt a sense of fear in who would see this piece. Who am I allowing to see me? Who would take pictures? What would they do with those photos? Who would attempt to touch my body if not being watched? What were they thinking when looking at my body? My hopes are that the viewer can look past the feminine figure and instinctual thoughts of repulse or desire, and begin to ponder their relationship to natural bodies, finding meaning through my literal and metaphorical transparency with the audience.