Henry Wise Wood Student Work Gallery
In this exhibition of works my goal was to bring attention to the human condition, negative stigma around human emotion and the impact it has on society. Exploring how, many of us interpret our own and each other's emotions while also focusing on what it is doing to society as a whole. My pieces include many different faces, each of which tell their own story about raw emotion and being human, for example my piece Subconscious is a self reflection of emotion and mental health. My work for this exhibition has been greatly inspired by artist Casey Buagh and how they use color and facial expression to connect with the viewer on a deeper emotional level. This exhibition aims to push the viewer to look at themselves and draw a personal connection between themselves and the artwork. I intend for my pieces to give the viewer an opportunity to reflect on how emotions build our character and how things we endure throughout our lives can change who we are as individuals. I have drawn on many of my own experiences and situations and have used these personal interactions to build off of and influence my art works.
When planning my exhibition I decided I was going to use the human face many times so I can clearly pass on to the viewer the emotion I am attempting to portray. A very important piece to my exhibition is Insouciant. This piece concentrates on the idea that as humans we tend to show off the happiest versions of ourselves and often hide the raw and real emotions from each other, which is why I decided to use the symbol of a hand covering a man's face to replace the emotional act of hiding with a physical act of hiding. My choice of media and techniques have been heavily influenced by the chaos and complexity of the human mind. I use media such as charcoal and ink because I enjoy the raw messy look of the material and it gives off a darker almost unsettling vibe, especially when combined with other media such as watercolor or acrylic paint. When working on my pieces' Subconscious and Aragma I used slightly uncomfortable media such as watered down india ink and raw wire to create pieces that have a sense of imperfect beauty to them. In both works subconscious and C10H12N2O I used loose canvas and a very watered down ink mixture to allow the canvas to soak up alot of pigment and allow for many layers, this technique helped build the uneasy feeling of both pieces. Another theme present in many of my pieces such as hurt me perfectly and audacious ambition confront the idea that forcing labels on people and putting them in boxes can be very damaging for society. Since these pieces were less about interpretation and more about symbolism I decided that using acrylic paint would be the best material to represent the works.
The layout of my exhibition is part of my thematic approach, spreading across a large wall in a scattered yet perfectly puzzled together way. The reason I have placed my pieces in this formation is because I wanted to continue to express how emotions are spontaneous and up front. My intention was that this wall of artworks function as a maze for the viewers' eyes to follow as they work their way through my collection, each piece leading the viewer into the next in an almost overwhelming way. Therefore the viewer is faced with all the artworks straight on and can start the journey through the “maze” of emotions wherever they desire.
When planning my exhibition I decided I was going to use the human face many times so I can clearly pass on to the viewer the emotion I am attempting to portray. A very important piece to my exhibition is Insouciant. This piece concentrates on the idea that as humans we tend to show off the happiest versions of ourselves and often hide the raw and real emotions from each other, which is why I decided to use the symbol of a hand covering a man's face to replace the emotional act of hiding with a physical act of hiding. My choice of media and techniques have been heavily influenced by the chaos and complexity of the human mind. I use media such as charcoal and ink because I enjoy the raw messy look of the material and it gives off a darker almost unsettling vibe, especially when combined with other media such as watercolor or acrylic paint. When working on my pieces' Subconscious and Aragma I used slightly uncomfortable media such as watered down india ink and raw wire to create pieces that have a sense of imperfect beauty to them. In both works subconscious and C10H12N2O I used loose canvas and a very watered down ink mixture to allow the canvas to soak up alot of pigment and allow for many layers, this technique helped build the uneasy feeling of both pieces. Another theme present in many of my pieces such as hurt me perfectly and audacious ambition confront the idea that forcing labels on people and putting them in boxes can be very damaging for society. Since these pieces were less about interpretation and more about symbolism I decided that using acrylic paint would be the best material to represent the works.
The layout of my exhibition is part of my thematic approach, spreading across a large wall in a scattered yet perfectly puzzled together way. The reason I have placed my pieces in this formation is because I wanted to continue to express how emotions are spontaneous and up front. My intention was that this wall of artworks function as a maze for the viewers' eyes to follow as they work their way through my collection, each piece leading the viewer into the next in an almost overwhelming way. Therefore the viewer is faced with all the artworks straight on and can start the journey through the “maze” of emotions wherever they desire.
Veil
Medium: India ink and watercolor on drawing paper.
Size: 27.94cm X 25.4cm
This piece is expressing the feeling of how in the public eye people are practically forced to hide who they truly are. My goal for this piece was to force the viewer to connect with the work and reflect on personal experiences of a time they were forced to put a “mask” on the hide who they were in order to escape negative backlash in society.
Medium: India ink and watercolor on drawing paper.
Size: 27.94cm X 25.4cm
This piece is expressing the feeling of how in the public eye people are practically forced to hide who they truly are. My goal for this piece was to force the viewer to connect with the work and reflect on personal experiences of a time they were forced to put a “mask” on the hide who they were in order to escape negative backlash in society.
Hurt Me Perfectly
Medium: Acrylic paint on stretched canvas
Size: 40.64cm X 50.8cm
I respect the complexity of the DC character Joker. I think many of us can often relate to the feeling of being misunderstood and underappreciated, as does his character. I have recreated this piece from the movie campaign to express my respect and my understanding of what Joker symbolizes and why he isn't just a classic “bad guy.” He represents all the underdogs of society and shows just how bad society treats people with mental illness.
Medium: Acrylic paint on stretched canvas
Size: 40.64cm X 50.8cm
I respect the complexity of the DC character Joker. I think many of us can often relate to the feeling of being misunderstood and underappreciated, as does his character. I have recreated this piece from the movie campaign to express my respect and my understanding of what Joker symbolizes and why he isn't just a classic “bad guy.” He represents all the underdogs of society and shows just how bad society treats people with mental illness.
Deaths head
Medium: India ink and watercolor on watercolor paper.
Size: 40.64cm X 34.29cm
In art skulls often symbolize death and mortality. In this piece I have used a skull to represent the emotional and mental feeling of being “numb”. People often express feeling numb as feeling as you have no soul. I found a skull fitting for this feeling of lack of emotion because emotion happens to be the one thing that makes us feel alive. Without it we would just be a pile of skin and bones
Medium: India ink and watercolor on watercolor paper.
Size: 40.64cm X 34.29cm
In art skulls often symbolize death and mortality. In this piece I have used a skull to represent the emotional and mental feeling of being “numb”. People often express feeling numb as feeling as you have no soul. I found a skull fitting for this feeling of lack of emotion because emotion happens to be the one thing that makes us feel alive. Without it we would just be a pile of skin and bones
C10H12N2O
Medium: India ink and watercolor on loose canvas.
Size: 45.72cm X 38.1cm
In this piece I have attempted to portray my personal idea of what the visual form serotonin but look like. My idea was to split a head in half to reveal the sensation of Serotonin in one's brain. Although there's lots of black in the piece, I have added many bursts of colour to represent the feeling of euphoria contrasted against other negative emotions. I have decided to keep the face of my person neutral to draw the viewer's focus to the background.
Medium: India ink and watercolor on loose canvas.
Size: 45.72cm X 38.1cm
In this piece I have attempted to portray my personal idea of what the visual form serotonin but look like. My idea was to split a head in half to reveal the sensation of Serotonin in one's brain. Although there's lots of black in the piece, I have added many bursts of colour to represent the feeling of euphoria contrasted against other negative emotions. I have decided to keep the face of my person neutral to draw the viewer's focus to the background.
Subconscious
Medium: India ink and watercolor on loose canvas
Size: 73.66cm X 58.42cm
I created this piece as a personal way to confront my struggle. I use my understanding of the word subconscious as a building block to create this piece. My goal while creating this work was to interpret the inner struggle of someone who is in a constant battle with themselves and their emotions. This piece was intended to feel as if the viewer was looking in a mirror. In the mirror is reflecting what is happening on the inside rather than reflecting what is showing on the outside.
Medium: India ink and watercolor on loose canvas
Size: 73.66cm X 58.42cm
I created this piece as a personal way to confront my struggle. I use my understanding of the word subconscious as a building block to create this piece. My goal while creating this work was to interpret the inner struggle of someone who is in a constant battle with themselves and their emotions. This piece was intended to feel as if the viewer was looking in a mirror. In the mirror is reflecting what is happening on the inside rather than reflecting what is showing on the outside.
Aragma (3)
Medium: Wire, Acrylic paint and Wood
Size: 22.86cm X 22.86cm 12.7cm X 25.4cm 10.16cm X 30.48cm
This series of three pieces made of metal was inspired by nature and the fact that human beings as a whole are just another part of nature. I decided to use wire and the symbolism of flowers to represent that humans are vulnerable and can break just as easily as anything else in this world. In this piece I also try to use very raw earthy materials to enhance my theme of nature.
Medium: Wire, Acrylic paint and Wood
Size: 22.86cm X 22.86cm 12.7cm X 25.4cm 10.16cm X 30.48cm
This series of three pieces made of metal was inspired by nature and the fact that human beings as a whole are just another part of nature. I decided to use wire and the symbolism of flowers to represent that humans are vulnerable and can break just as easily as anything else in this world. In this piece I also try to use very raw earthy materials to enhance my theme of nature.
Overburden
Medium: Charcoal and acrylic paint on drawing paper.
Size: 76.2cm X 55.88cm
Overburden means to load someone with too many things for them to carry. In this piece I have used the visual of three different men, and I scraped paint across the piece to cover over the eyes, the ears, and the mouth of the different people. Inspired by the quote “ hear no evil, See No Evil, speak no evil” I have chosen to express how in the world there is so much bad, yet in the media they only show the good and force the rest of the world to be silent.
Medium: Charcoal and acrylic paint on drawing paper.
Size: 76.2cm X 55.88cm
Overburden means to load someone with too many things for them to carry. In this piece I have used the visual of three different men, and I scraped paint across the piece to cover over the eyes, the ears, and the mouth of the different people. Inspired by the quote “ hear no evil, See No Evil, speak no evil” I have chosen to express how in the world there is so much bad, yet in the media they only show the good and force the rest of the world to be silent.
Audacious ambition
Medium: Acrylic paint and watercolor on stretched canvas.
Size: 40.64cm X 50.8cm
I made this piece to bring attention to some of the stereotypes we see of girls and women in the media. Society often portrays women as sex symbols or weak and emotional. So I have decided to paint the image of a girl much like one you would see in the media, I have added symbols like the devil horns to represent that our emotions are not a weakness. I have also to put my female in very little clothing to represent that even though it's out there our bodies are in fact our bodies.
Medium: Acrylic paint and watercolor on stretched canvas.
Size: 40.64cm X 50.8cm
I made this piece to bring attention to some of the stereotypes we see of girls and women in the media. Society often portrays women as sex symbols or weak and emotional. So I have decided to paint the image of a girl much like one you would see in the media, I have added symbols like the devil horns to represent that our emotions are not a weakness. I have also to put my female in very little clothing to represent that even though it's out there our bodies are in fact our bodies.
Insouciant
Medium: India ink and watercolor on stretched canvas.
Size: 40.64cm X 50.8cm
This piece was inspired and recreated by an artwork I saw on social media. (artist and title not found) I thought the piece fit well with my concept that humans choose what to see in the world and often block out the things and feelings we should be focusing on most. I decided to use very dull colors to express the emotionless and moody tone of the piece. My intention was to inform people of this hidden lack of concern we have for our own society and hopefully open peoples eyes to make a change.
Medium: India ink and watercolor on stretched canvas.
Size: 40.64cm X 50.8cm
This piece was inspired and recreated by an artwork I saw on social media. (artist and title not found) I thought the piece fit well with my concept that humans choose what to see in the world and often block out the things and feelings we should be focusing on most. I decided to use very dull colors to express the emotionless and moody tone of the piece. My intention was to inform people of this hidden lack of concern we have for our own society and hopefully open peoples eyes to make a change.