How do obsessions affect people and the world around them?
This theme is very personal to me, and every piece represents something that I've either experienced or observed. I hope that everyone can view my art from their own lens and have their own interpretation. Thank you!
"Drowning in the Shallow End"
Dimensions: 8x10
Mediums: Iphone camera, ring light, and photoshop.
This was my first time experimenting with photography and editing software, so I feel that it's fitting to have it at the beginning of my portfolio's journey.
This piece explores the comfort and familiarity that some people experience with their sadness. Even when there is positivity present, it can be hard to stop focusing on all the negativity in the world.
As the subject looks down at the blue light, which represents negativity and sadness, she ignores the orange light, which represents positivity. Even though positivity is present, it is easier to continue obsessing with negativity her sadness, as it is all she's known.
"Fixation"
Dimensions: 8x10
Mediums: Iphone camera, ring light,and photoshop.
This was my second time experimenting with photography and editing software.
This piece explores the anxiety and fear that comes with deep obsession. As someone with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), I obsess over certain thoughts and have to complete "rituals" to temporarily stop my anxiety; however, it is a never ending cycle of frustration and fear. I wanted to visualize my feelings relating to that through this piece.
"Bound by Beauty"
Dimensions: 8x10
Mediums: Iphone camera, ring light, and photoshop
This piece focuses on society's obsession with beauty standards and the control they have over women particularly. By presenting an exposed mannequin bound in chains, I emphasize how women often lose their individuality when beauty standards are pushed upon them, making them feel more like a doll than a human being. I had her exposed and chained because women can be forced to sexualize themselves in order to conform to beauty standards, and the makeup brush symbolizes the feeling of needing to cover up "imperfections" in order to meet beauty standards.
"I, Deity"
Dimensions: 10x12
Mediums: Oil pastel
I wanted to explore obsession with divinity, specifically religious pyschosis and how people experience it. I gave the subject blue skin to emphasize how she feels as if she no longer sees from a "human" perspective, but something higher. Her dull, lifeless eyes contrasted with the more lively third eye represents how she no longer sees through her own perspective, but through the divine. Her hair wraps all around her like string, as if she is trapped in her own mind.
"Glutton"
Dimensions: 12x11
Mediums: Marker, colored pencil, and a colorless blender.
This piece explores the obsession with material items. Similarly to the last piece, I wanted the subject to look human-like, yet monstrous, as they lost their humanity in the pursuit of money. I find that some people put more value on money than on relationships or bettering the world. In some ways, this is understandable; having the drive to make money makes sense in our capitalistic society. However, I feel like the hunger can grow into an unhealthy obsession.
"Yearning for Comfort"
Dimensions: 3955x2778
Mediums: Iphone camera, ring light, and photoshop
I wanted to explore the obsession with intimacy and the craving to feel loved. I find that so many people find it very hard to be alone in general, but specifically romantically. I have noticed that many people, ranging from teen to adult, constantly need a partner to feel secure. Through this, I wanted to specifically explore the desire to stay in an intimate relationship even though you know you are not being truly loved or respected. The subject is laying on the knees of their partner, and they are being patted like a pet. Despite this, the subject chooses to stay, because to her, being touched and loved at all is better than nothing. She looks directly into the camera, knowing that this situation is wrong, but has no real urge to do anything about it.
"What Is My Shelf Life?"
Dimensions: 26x13
Mediums: Watercolor, rubber cement, colored pencil, and a colorless blender.
For my final piece, I wanted to explore an obsession that I believe is deeply engrained in our society: maintaining youth. I feel like women are specifically targetted with this obsession. Wrinkles, sagging skin, stretch marks, and anything associated with aging are looked down upon by societal beauty standards for women. Unfortunately, this causes many women to desire cosmetic surgeries or covering feautres with makeup to maintain a youthful appearance.​In this piece, the pear represents the female body, and as it ages, it begins to grow bad spots. Throughout this process, it begins to fall over, as if it is covering itself. Along with this, as time goes on, the background colors transition to cool tones, which I associate with peace, to warm tones, which I associate with stress and fear.