Leenomy Magwizi
Embedded Files
Identity
Identity
Medium: Digitally manipulated photograph
Size:size variable,28.8x28.6cm in exhibition
Intention: This work was from a series of pictures I took of myself with makeup trying to imitate vitiligo de-pigmented patches on my face. I then digitally altered the pictures by changing the colors, hues and saturation of the image, using Photoshop, to achieve the end result. This was to show how vitiligo is a condition that can affect anyone and any time of their lives as well as taking any form.
Profile montage
Profile montage
Medium: Digitally manipulated photographs of vitiligo face collage
Size: size variable 57.5x57.8cm in exhibition
Intention: This piece is a grid of four digitally altered collages of my face with vitiligo makeup on my face. This was for me to see what I would look like with vitiligo patterns as well as observe the people around me and how they would perceive me with vitiligo. The different coloration illustrates the different mixed feelings I got from the people around me.
One
One
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: Three pieces each 50cm x 40cm
Intention: These paintings are based on a combination of photos of me in vitiligo makeup and my pastel drawing. This work expresses the different forms and shapes that vitiligo takes on a person and still present as beautiful and unique. The use of color also shows how much vitiligo can be explored and expressed in numerous ways and still be portrayed as beautiful, as well as reflecting on how vitiligo is a condition that can affect anyone and has no regard for skin color, making the color range vast.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo
Medium: Pastel and compressed charcoal paper
Size: 42x29.7 cm
Intention: This piece was created using pastels and compressed charcoal. The de-pigmented patches caused by vitiligo are portrayed by different warm and cold colors. The color blending and range portrays vitiligo as a beautiful and creative condition. The shape of the patches are random, just like how vitiligo forms on the skin of an individual. The eyes with tears in blue depict the sorrow and tiredness of a person with vitiligo within perceived societal beauty standards.
Time ahead
Time ahead
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 70x100cm
Intention: This work expresses how vitiligo is perceived as a condition that ruins one's potential or ability to be perceived as beautiful. The different colored patches portraying vitiligo are spreading and dripping onto the calla lilies. Calla lilies symbolize magnificence and beauty as well as combining these 2 attributes with purity and innocence. In this case, vitiligo destroys the calla lilies’ beauty and
innocence as it progresses over time.
Phased
Phased
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: four works, each 30x50 cm
Intention: These paintings express the physical and mental changes someone with vitiligo goes through. These changes occur over time and there are different forms of symbolism used including the recurring and changing hand in three of the paintings. The hand symbolizes Father Time. The person in the paintings undergoes changes in their surroundings and physically and their emotions in the situation are portrayed through their facial expressions throughout.
Curatorial Rationale
Curatorial Rationale
This exhibition explores the theme of vitiligo, a skin condition that causes random depigmented patches onto the skin, and how I and numerous artists such as Stephanie Corne who took on the “Vitiligo Project”, perceive it in respect to its beauty and uniqueness. My works are also influenced by how society perceives vitiligo as unnatural and ugly.
The consistent use of a range of contrasting colors freed me from conventional skin colors in my works. The striking use of intense colors reflects how vitiligo causes people to be stared at. Through exploring vitiligo, I found out the condition has many mental consequences for the people affected. I tried to put myself in the position of a person with vitiligo and see how I and the people around me could perceive me with the condition. I applied makeup in vitiligo like patterns leading to the creation of ‘Identity’ and ‘Profile montage’. I wanted to try and have an idea of the psychological toll the condition can have on an individual given it can develop at any time in a person's life or they could be born with it.
Two of my works, ‘Phased’ and ‘One’ are paintings done in a series. Paintings from ‘One’ were arranged side by side because they represent the same idea of the expression of beauty. ‘Phased’ is sequential in its arrangement as the idea behind the work is to do with time. ‘Time ahead’ is positioned to the far end of the exhibition because of its larger size and the idea behind the destruction of beauty over time by vitiligo, similarly to ‘Phased’. Digitally altered photographs and collages, ‘Profile montage’ and ‘Identity’ are positioned in the same area because these works have more focus on the emotions of vitiligo on individuals by other people and how those emotions can be depicted through color and distortion.
All my works try to express the beauty and uniqueness of vitiligo in different circumstances.
I have selected these works because I see as though they are more in compliance with the idea of skin discoloration which has always been something very fascinating to me. I have also always wanted to know and explore more on this because I grew up seeing my mother’s friend, who also has vitiligo and I wonderedhow she felt about herself and her surroundings due to her unusual feature of patched depigmentation.
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