Jenna Smith
Power
Power
In my opinion, impactful art is about making statements and starting conversations. By choosing the theme “Power”, I was able to explore this concept through many different valuable subtopics. My aim for this body of work, which I have spent the last two years creating, is to force the audience to reevaluate their perspective on our predefined values and bring awareness to topics which are often considered taboo. Although at first glance my exhibition may seem overwhelming, there is a clear connection between the pieces in their relation to power, in both a negative and positive connotation. I wanted to express the bold, liberating and beautiful aspects of power, as well as the detrimental, oppressive and sinister side. I did not shy away from exploring new styles, techniques and mediums which all aid in the purposes of conveying these strong messages. I believe that art is one of the best ways to communicate thoughts and feelings, and therefore I hope that my various pieces will impact the audience while viewing them as much as they impacted me while making them. My vision for this exhibition is to show how I have developed not only as an artist but also as a person who is constantly learning and growing. I also hope to create a safe space in which people might feel heard and seen while viewing my art and know that they deserve to be a part of the discussion.
Although all my pieces are extremely different from each other in both their construction and inspiration, they all connect to the theme of “Power”. I really wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone in the DP to help me grow as an artist and find my style, therefore I decided to explore more unconventional mediums and topics. I felt it was important to bring awareness to global human rights issues such as female genital mutilation, police brutality, sexual assault and climate change which can be seen in “P*ssy Power”, “Slaughterhouse”, “Liberation” and “Time of the Season”. I wanted these pieces to educate viewers and to motivate them to try to help these causes. I also explored social issues such as toxic masculinity, privilege and self obsession in “Fragility”, “The Mission” and “Ego Death”. These pieces aim to make viewers question their morals and rethink their values. I also wanted to create more personal pieces exploring my experiences as a teenager growing up in difficult times as well as my international background living as an expat which are seen in “Reality in Motion” and “4753 km”. They were both done as photography pieces as I have always best expressed myself through my passion for photography. I experimented with many different mediums to further convey the powerful messages I was trying to send.
I set up my exhibition with the intention to draw the audience in and feel the energy of my theme as soon as they walk through the door. Although I did place my pieces with intention, there is no correct order in which the viewer should go. As these pieces have the potential to connect with human experiences, I felt it was best to set the exhibition up in a way that allows the viewer to gravitate towards the piece they felt the strongest connection to and make their way from there. I want the art to guide the audience through their own interpretations and emotions towards them as I feel this will have a stronger, more personal impact. I have always been a perfectionist in my work which can be seen in the way I have chosen to set up my exhibition. I put a lot of focus into symmetry and simplicity as I didn’t want an intricate setup to distract the viewer from the message of the piece. I also wanted to ensure that the audience don’t feel too intimidated and overwhelmed by my exhibition as there is a lot to absorb. The pieces move around the room in an almost circular shape which once again allows the viewer to start where they please. The pieces use up their given space effectively and allow for them to stand out amongst each other.
P*ssy Power (December 2020)
Batik
Dimensions: 3 x 80cm x 60cm
Inspired by the feminist artist Bober this piece brings light to the taboo topic of female genitalia and sexuality. After learning about FGM I was determined to make a piece that allows females to feel powerful and in control of their own bodies. The various colours and shapes serve as a function to show the diversity between women and motivate us to celebrate our differences. It is my intention to inspire conversation about gender power dynamics and hope people will allow themselves to listen.
Fragility (September 2021)
Nails and String
Dimensions: 150cm x 110cm
Inspired by artist Yamashita, this piece challenges toxic masculinity. After finding frightening statistics about the pressures upon men to appear masculine, I decided to create a piece that questions this culture. The decision to use string serves to show the true fragility of the male ego whilst the nails represent a strong facade. With this piece I intend to take the power away from the pressures of masculinity and expose those who have placed these toxic expectations into society.
The Mission (March 2021)
Modroc, Wax and Spraypaint
Dimensions 95cm x 25cm x 25cm
Inspired by Fischer, this sculpture represents the struggles of minorities. Living privileged it is easy to forget the difficulties that minorities face and efforts they make to achieve equality. The sculpted hands reaching towards the sky shows the fight for power within these individuals whereas the wax melting down represents how these efforts are suppressed. The purpose of this piece is to make one aware of their privilege and use it to help those held back by our marginalised society.
Slaughterhouse (October 2021)
Cardboard, Spraypaint, Acrylic and Charcoal
Dimensions: 90cm x 90cm
Inspired by Ojala, this piece explores the detrimental effects of police brutality. Although abuse of power from law enforcement has been a problem for a long time, the issue is being addressed on a large scale through movements like #BlackLivesMatter. The mediums used show the layers to this global problem which is rooted in racism, homophobia, transphobia etc. The skulls behind the flaming police car show the victims of this violence, stripped of their identity and sometimes even their lives.
Reality in Motion (August 2021)
Analog Photography
Dimensions: 26 x 10cm x 15cm
Inspired by Calvin on Film, I decided to investigate the power of having one shot to capture moments of life on film. I believe we are often too focused on the advancements of technology that we forget how to value experiences while being present. The photos capture moments I have had without having to worry about distracting factors such as light, colour and composition. This art form reveals the most honest and raw depiction of my memories with no finetuning or editing, just as life itself.
Liberation (May 2021)
Acrylic, Linoprint, Modroc and Digital Art
Dimensions: 200cm x 300cm
Inspired by the #MeToo movement, this installation explores the liberation and healing of victims of sexual assault. #MeToo allowed individuals to speak out against abuse and share their experiences. Liberation not only shares stories of sexual assault to create awareness, but also attempts to separate the idea of sexuality with consent. I hope this piece both educates people on the trauma of sexual assault and helps victims find peace and comfort in their bodies and expression of sexuality.
Time of the Season (February 2022)
Acrylic, Airbrush, Modelling Paste
Dimensions: 40cm x 30cm
Inspired by local artist Röhrig, this piece explores the power of the natural world and appreciates its beauty. I engaged in a workshop with Röhrig which taught me many new techniques in surrealism. I think that this style of art is highly appropriate as I personally view nature as something magical and surreal. This piece aims to highlight the diversity of our unique biomes and value our incredible planet before we destroy it.
Ego Death (March 2022)
Acrylic, Sand
Dimensions: 90cm x 90cm
This piece explores the concept of the complete loss of subjective self-identity, otherwise known as Ego Death. In a society fueled by the dark power of competition and vanity, we often find ourselves hurting others while desperately trying to soothe the ego, relating to our feelings of importance and sense of personal identity. This piece aims to question our obsession with appearances and imagine a being that is able to exist without the strain and pressures of the fabricated sense of self.
4753 km (December 2020)
Digital Photography
Dimensions: 2 x 60cm x 90cm
Inspired by Morris, these photographs explore the architectural structures of the most famous highrise buildings in the contrasting cities of Zurich and Dubai. While exploring these cities, I noticed these towers for their uniqueness and their essence of power. These buildings both dominate the cities’ skylines, and show the power in human creations and advancements. These cityscapes stand out to me personally as I have a connection to both Zurich and Dubai, making them even more special.