Madison Lee

My investigation ties cartoons' vibrant, lively aesthetic to a kid's view of life and the world around them. As we grew up, it became clear that the shows we watched as kids were unrealistic compared to our world. Kids' cartoons depict life as easy, carefree, and happy. Unlike adults, kids live unaware of the harsh reality that accompanies their world. To them, our world seems like a utopia they can explore. Kids feel more blissful in life than adults, free of responsibility. Yet kids are also uninformed and exposed to life's dangers and risks.

Most of my art is inspired by memories from my childhood. For example, When Kids Give You Lemons was based on my cousin once throwing a lemon at my mom's eye. My series has a character who represents my youth. She's pink because it was my favorite color, and her heart-shaped design symbolizes my kindness from childhood. I wanted my art to give off a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. Shows like Hey Arnold, Ed Edd n Eddy, and Pepper Ann inspired the style and color palette in my work. I used fuzzy brushes resembling crayons to make my art feel childlike, along with bright, eye-catching colors to show the world via the lens of my character.