i eat
Location
FA-152
Start Date
2-5-2025 10:00 AM
Department
Art + Design
Abstract
Through the interplay of material, imagery, and world building, the installation, “i eat,” represents a confrontation with the external, societal forces we internalize to shape our identity. Specifically, “i eat” explores themes of gender and body image through figural imagery and mixed media. Drawing from personal experiences, the work examines how societal, religious, and patriarchal norms have shaped and stifled my self-perception and expression. While these images are distinctive to my experience, viewers are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences with self-image and the ways their identities have been constructed. Materiality plays a crucial role in conveying these themes. Non-archival materials like cardboard and Kraft paper, chosen initially for my easy access to them, reflect the fluid and impermanent nature of identity. Their brown hues allow me to celebrate the beauty of brown- skinned figures, while their ephemeral quality speaks to the ways marginalized identities are often rendered disposable. In contrast, found objects and inexpensive adornments complicate ideas of materiality and value, highlighting the intersections between identity, value, and expression. Together, these materials challenge conventional notions of worth and permanence, reinforcing the work’s exploration of identity as both socially constructed and ever-fluid.
Faculty Sponsor
Nate Mathews
i eat
FA-152
Through the interplay of material, imagery, and world building, the installation, “i eat,” represents a confrontation with the external, societal forces we internalize to shape our identity. Specifically, “i eat” explores themes of gender and body image through figural imagery and mixed media. Drawing from personal experiences, the work examines how societal, religious, and patriarchal norms have shaped and stifled my self-perception and expression. While these images are distinctive to my experience, viewers are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences with self-image and the ways their identities have been constructed. Materiality plays a crucial role in conveying these themes. Non-archival materials like cardboard and Kraft paper, chosen initially for my easy access to them, reflect the fluid and impermanent nature of identity. Their brown hues allow me to celebrate the beauty of brown- skinned figures, while their ephemeral quality speaks to the ways marginalized identities are often rendered disposable. In contrast, found objects and inexpensive adornments complicate ideas of materiality and value, highlighting the intersections between identity, value, and expression. Together, these materials challenge conventional notions of worth and permanence, reinforcing the work’s exploration of identity as both socially constructed and ever-fluid.