she’s had enough!

Stopmotion animation in charcoal

2023

artist statement

In 2023 I had the opportunity to visit New York City for a tour of several renowned art museums, and while I greatly benefited from this arts education and found it very inspiring for my own work, my inspiration manifested in a different way than I expected.

Throughout the trip I felt overwhelmed by the number of female nudes, all so easily accepted as normal, with the model’s body often completely separated from her identity as a person. I realized this is true not only in the art world, but everywhere. Women’s bodies are ingrained in media, and always being looked at through the male gaze. I was taking a figure drawing class during this time as well, and plenty familiar with the necessary practice of drawing nudes to develop my skill as an artist. But I began to wonder why it always had to be women, and if other women were also getting sick of seeing their bodies constantly on display for others to stare at with a critical eye?

In answer to this question, I personified women as one being and compared her to a rabbit. Like women, they’re seen simultaneously as both innocent (easter bunnies, toys for children) and sexual in nature (Playboy imagery, “multiplying like rabbits,” etc). I thought perhaps she might like a break from being looked at all the time. So the model, starting as a smoky, nebulous smudge in a chair, changes her mind about sitting for the portrait—instead, simply hopping out of frame.