Object Spaces 09

Women’s bodies occupy a space intrinsically associated with beauty; the female bodies we see represented in popular culture and specifically in advertising more often occupy a space of appearance than one of action— they are regularly depicted reclining, their limbs bent or falling limply, passively. They are not engaged with their surroundings, but rather used as decorative objects like furniture to embellish the environments they occupy.
 
The paintings is this series explore how this allocation of space affects the body. Unlike popular culture and media images, there is no attempt made to create the illusion that these women are real. They exist solely for the viewing pleasure of the spectator. The presentation is intended to create a self awareness in the viewer as a participant in the process of objectification, a shift that I hope will draw attention to the manner in which the female figure has been characterized in the media.
 
Acrylic paint and ink on wood panel.