Reflective Thoughts

Reflective Thoughts acrylic paint, adhesive glue, wall paint, Mirror
Dimensions:42 in. x 24 in., Text Dimensions: 13 ½ in. x 20 in.
Installation Dimensions: Variable

The larger overarching theme of my work tends to be about my repressed femininity and how it bleeds through into my art. My femininity shows up in my artwork through my use of floral motifs and pink and purple color schemes. Feminine colors and associations are always something that I avoid in the form of self-expression, that is, anything from makeup to pink clothes. I have felt the need to go against the grain and not “conform” to this identity that was pushed onto me from an early age. My artwork tackles these discomforts and turns them into something I truly love and make peace with. Reflective Thoughts is specifically about the viewer relinquishing their vanity to gain or understand the meaning of the work. The viewer is not able to read the backward floral typeface until they stand off to the left of the mirror completely eliminating themselves from the picture. “Fuck off” is my personal thought to people when they are only thinking of themselves when inquiring about as if I am lacking something because I do not live up to who they want me to be. I chose to display this profane phase in an extremely delightful and hyper-feminine way to offset the abrupt negativity of this phrase, eliciting a delayed reaction from the viewer. Each of the flowers I sculpted out of foam clay which was a very labor-intensive process rather than buying ready-mades. I chose to do this instead because it displays the labor and burden of feminine responsibilities that cannot be faked. It is literal work to be femme presenting because of the standards
that society pushes onto you constantly expecting you to always meet them. This work inherently requires contemplation of this simple phrase and the fact that you must lack vanity to read the text without looking in the mirror the text is not legible because of the confusion that is created by it not only being painted backward but also its floral typeface.