Lucia
DECONSTRUCTED SELF PORTRAIT
acrylic on doors/ wood and canvas board, easel
Art
has always been therapeutic to me, until I decided to paint for more than just
myself.
I’ve decided to use a powerful
background by using old closet doors. I
wanted the doors to be appealing and my body a small after thought. As the artist I know how I see myself and I
would rather skip over how I feel and focus on what the viewer feels.
My
self-portraits are my rebellions against the racist town I was born in, social norms,
and family expectations. My home town
made me tired of hearing how better fair skin is than cinnamon skin. Painting my figures darker than they appear
in life is a form of rebellion against them.
Not too long ago I was told what social rules to follow when speaking to
strangers, or acquaintances. I get tired
of having to pretend to be quiet avoiding confrontation. So I often choose active colors for my
backgrounds, they always speak loudly, even when I’m not allowed.
My
art speaks for me whether I expect it to or not.
I absolutely love the vibrant colors as it gives off a chaotic feel of what your town was like and how people don't stop talking and being judgmental. I really enjoy the shading of skin in a dark flesh tone against the green. I was curious though upon the choice of having a very blended area upon your back but kind of outlining the high light in your lower back cause that really stood out to me as a contrast. I wonder also how it'd look with your image on top of the doors or placed behind them peeking out. I enjoy the fact that you placed your image in front as it demonstrates your rebellion. Great work! I'm sure getting those doors in the building wasn't an easy task.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to what you have to say as an artist and the struggles between painting for yourself versus sharing what you have to say to others. I like the visual appeal of having the different colored doors be places in a way that makes you admire the geometric shapes. The part that includes your self does seem like an afterthought which is what you were going for. I'm still trying to work out the relationship between the doors and your self image. Maybe you were trying to show a breaking frame as breaking norms? Either way I love the colors you used and the placement of the doors.
ReplyDeleteThe background is very impressive due to the construction and form. The colors definetly work with your back and i feel that the meaning behind this piece definitely allows me to look back at Texas and the same things i viewed in Midland. The color theory within this is very strong whether it was realized when making it or not. Great!
ReplyDeleteLike Rabia, I can relate to your statement. The doors are really interesting, I like looking at the connections. The colors you used are very loud. I know that you said you wanted your body to be an after thought, but I think the figure falls a bit flat next to the bright colors usede in the background. You've created an intersting portrait that is open to various interpretations.
ReplyDeleteI liked the strength of importance in this piece although kind of strange because of its obscure presentation but I enjoyed this one and hearing how you constructed it. revision of the composition and position wouldn't hurt but really cool piece
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a very good idea to combine a self portrait painting with installation. It made me look at your work much more intently and with greater interest. The figure portrait could have had more time spent on it, but it gets the job done to send your message very clearly nonetheless
ReplyDeleteI thought your piece was very interactive and that the placement of the figurative painting would have made sense for me in many different spots. I liked the front because I got the feeling that you were breaking through the past and revealing a new powerful you. In your statement it becomes clear that you have been affected strongly by your birth place and rising from the ashes like a phoenix. I liked your concepts a lot.
ReplyDeleteI love the use of doors. and the way you seemed to have fun putting them together. I get the sense that you did that part of your piece in many ways for yourself and it makes it very enjoyable to look at.
ReplyDeleteI think that the placement of your figure work will either make or break this piece. I think that it needs to be carefully considered so that whatever message you want to send becomes clear, but I also think you need to be careful about keeping it integrated with the doors.
Overall I really enjoyed the 3 dimensionality of this piece and I think it was a very successful installation overall.
I love how far you went for this self portrait, it was great walking around this in class. As lovely and interesting as this is, I have to agree with Rabia and say that I'm still a little be confused about the connection between the doors and yourself. The placement of the figure is very important to this piece I think, like James mentioned. During class I think your figure worked better when behind the space, again like an after thought. When the figure was up in front of everything, it felt a bit out of place. Overall a very strong piece and I love the thought and effort you put into it.
ReplyDeleteI love your artist statement. I feel that the found doors really connect more with your piece than the painting itself. I can see the doors as doors that you are shutting, There is no obvious connection between the doors and the painting when first viewing it, and it seems like it would have been stronger by itself. I really feel the connection to your Hispanic background with your color palate. This piece is really successful in conveying what you wanted to show!
ReplyDeleteI must be honest, I am not sure how I feel about this piece. As a sculpture, the doors are very neatly entwined and it does have an interesting vibe. I do not feel that the painting of the woman's back (your back?) fits in with the sculptural piece as a "self-portrait". There is no obvious connection there for me. Your artist statement is intriguing, but as a viewer I am not sure your purpose comes across in this piece's execution.
ReplyDeleteThe doors are extremely successful in your piece, but I feel as though the figurative element is disconnected, of added on as an afterthought. I would have preferred you painted something on one of the doors, instead of something so disconnected like a small canvas-board. The easel is strange too. Everything is being held up without an easel, so this makes the figurative element seem even more disconnected.
ReplyDelete