Selfie Portrait Performance

 

When considering my pieces for the Selfie Portrait performance, the social-political issue that came to mind was domestic abuse/equality between genders. This performance addresses the issue of domestic abuse because it is the harsh reality that individuals could be facing in their homes. The pieces are the brutal truth of abuse and I would like to point out that though all pieces above are females, males of course also face this unjustified matter as well. You can see that in the first two pieces, it revolves around physical abuse where as my last piece ultimately points out the idea of mental abuse and how equally important it is to physically being abused. The last piece reflects on fear and how some individuals would rather keep their voices unheard rather then speak up, unable to free themselves because unfortunately there are some who can't escape their abuser. 

Relating back to certain artist that inspired my idea for this piece, I would have to say Ana Mendieta. A few weeks prior we discussed Mendieta work and I was surprised at how raw and riveting her art work was. Personally I appreciate artist who are honest and simple with their pieces, and I felt that you could pick up her message through her art quickly. She was not afraid of applying the ugly and most times difficult to look at characteristic into her pieces. I also stood behind the meaning of many of her pieces because having an aunt who suffered for many years in the hands of an abuser, I felt that her pieces got the word around about how important it is not to ignore and help those who may be needing some sort of help.

Performance can help reflect self identity because as mentioned, certain pieces can be seen by someone who may need to see it. What I mean by that is that you never really are aware of what someone else may be going through behind closed doors. That one piece could be the reason that someone decides to take a different direction in their life. Certain pieces will go beyond just being a painting or photograph. Harsh pieces such as these will spread the word about an issue that is not mentioned or talked about as much as it should be. 

Quotes relating to the pieces:

"Something we hear about, but doubt, seems proven when we're shown a photograph of it."

Susan Sontag

“I still like the idea of challenging myself through the more hands-on methods, only because I think it’s more challenging when you are limited,” 

Cindy Sherman 

John Berger

"the art of any culture will show a wide differential of talent. But in no other culture is the difference between "masterpiece" and average work so large as in the traditional the oil painting" Pg. 88

"Their purpose was not to transport their spectator-owners into new experience but to embellish such experience as they already possessed. "Pg 101