"Untamed: Breaking Gender Norms Through Her Eyes" 

Abstract

This art project aims to tackle the gender stereotypes of women that were created and held up in our cis-heteronormative society, such as the sexualization and stigmatization of women’s bodies. In addition, harassment, as well as sexual violence are normalized against women, particularly those who do not conform to heteronormative definitions of what a woman is, such as transgender people, non-straight, etc. As lesbians, we are often outside cis-hetero norms as they not only push the boundaries of sexuality, but also actively participate in gender nonconformity and use that idea of nonconformity in media such as crochet, impressionism painting, and augmented reality technology that has a history of not conforming to traditional art ideals in order to promote the normalization and desexualization of women's bodies. Crafts and textiles are often thought to be women's activities and not a traditional art form, which makes it a great medium to create crocheted breast keychains with. Painting is one of the oldest art forms, but in the article “The Lasting Impression of French Impressionism – Minneapolis Institute of Art”, impressionism was not accepted as real art when it became more popular, and it was used as a means of insulting unfinished or sloppy paintings. This additional context and history about impressionistic paintings could add a deeper layer to my project. Lastly, women are often excluded from the technological field and utilizing augmented reality allows for interactive experiences that engage viewers in conversations about gender equality. This intersection of art and technology not only brings attention to these important issues but also empowers women to reclaim and reshape their representation in both the art world and society at large. As people view this piece, I hope that they experience a sense of sympathy/empathy and disgust at how society treats women, as well as a sense of community that this piece provides for women.