OPENING STATEMENT
The below piece was written at the beginning of my third year at University. At this point, I was just starting the final instalment of my degree, and at a tumultuous time in my artistic pathway. Reflecting upon my work so far, and looking to the future, this was a crucial stage of my development. Learning to think critically, problem solve, developing communication and working independently and collaboratively became the foundation of my working pattern, and I was really learning to put them in to practice effectively.
​
Futhermore, I was also recognising the contextual value of works and theories that were key influences within my practice. The result is a varied and diverse body of work, symbolising my growth as an artist, both in the themes corresponding to the work, but also in my ability to effectively plan, implement, reflect and evaluate my work.
Opening Statement
Throughout my artistic career, my thesis has centred around the female figure, and the many representations it has been given throughout art history. As a Queer, female artist, my perspective on the female nude differs from my contextual influencers as their narratives centred around the male gazing at the female (The Male Gaze). Subverting this traditional misogynistic viewpoint explores the notion and role of woman in 21st century art.
Reflecting upon my progress within this course, has exposed how far I feel I have come. From my beginnings in the foundation year, I could never envision I could get to where I am now. Although I have experimented with many mediums, such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, new media, textiles, photography and foundry; I have found that painting, printmaking and digital media to be my favourite vehicles of self-expression. Through a ‘trial and error’ approach, my work has taken on many forms, and I’ve explored concepts that have moulded informed my practise to what it is today.
With the core concepts centering around the female form, its representation and misrepresentation; wider themes and narrative have allowed my practise to become fully realised, in both its concept and practise. Four years of work, exploration and experimentation have led to my current standpoint in which I wish to study and display images of the female nude through a lens of naturalism, creating images I wish I would have seen growing up.
The displaying of natural, soft women with bodies very much like my own. I anticipate this year I may find it difficult to work in isolation without in person peer and lecturer feed-back to challenge, and provoke, my ideas and concepts, yet I hope to find regular contact and normality within online sessions.