Sustained Investigation #4

Artist's Statement:

Jillian Wight

Medsker

AP Art and Design

8 November 2021

This was my fourth investigation of the concept of beauty, and how it is influenced by perception. I decided to create a garment because it directly correlates to my theme as clothes are the most blatant form of self-expression and beauty beyond humanness. I incorporated contrasting images that depicted organic subjects to create a unique contrast between this idea of comforting, naturalistic beauty and the idea of the abuse of the term “beauty” when related to femininity. This clash is accomplished by incorporating elements such as the large, spiky shoulders which indicate danger, the way that the garment stifles the model’s mouth, the incorporation of snakes and a beetle on its back (exposed and vulnerable), as well as the decision to put a human in the garment but remove its humanness by making the image black and white.

I found images and collaged them using photoshop. I chose each piece deliberately, based on color and subject. For example, the purple base is a fetal lung, which I thought would be very interesting to interpret.

I didn’t do a great job sketching this design out beforehand, though it is loosely based on a design I’ve been sketching and playing around with for a while. This was a very process-driven project, and it really developed as it went. The midriff section was especially challenging for me. I don't know how to incorporate the beetle smooth;y, so I decided to take the cutout approach, which exposed the model’s belly in a way that enhanced the piece’s relation to my theme. Overall, I adjusted the work numerous times, and finally am happy with the appearance. Every decision is intentional and thought through.

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