Tamara BARTON
Vermont Secondary College
VCE Studio Arts 3&4
Artist statement: This artwork was sparked from my underlining theme of perfectionism in reality versus the media. I wanted to develop an artwork that questioned social norms of trying to be perfect. This idea was developed throughout my studio process when I was experimenting with different materials and processes such as digital collage and physical manipulation of printed photographs. I was intent on drawing from my experience of modelling and contorting my body to look perfect and wanted to juxtapose that with imperfect elements to convey slightly unsettling images.
I explored the artistic practice of Alex Mendea and her use of body paint as a material, which I found incredibly interesting. I was also fascinated by the work she did for Ariana Grande’s music video, ‘God is a woman’. This intrigued me as she painted Grande’s body in a way that made her look perfect, skinny and beautiful, relating to my theme of perfectionism in the media. Therefore, throughout my own studio process I explored confronting perfectionism by manipulating body paint to make myself look imperfect. I decided to use body paint to block out sections of my body and to symbolise individuals hating their physical flaws. Throughout this process I manipulated the texture of the images by experimenting with hole-punching, pinning, burning, delaminating and folding. Furthermore, I manipulated my imagery using Photoshop and created layers of red circles of different opacities, symbolic of hiding imperfections.
Throughout this process I was reflecting on ways I could challenge perfectionism. I decided to make my artwork a life size image to explore the physical relationship between myself and the representation of myself. I explored the power of the gaze throughout my studio process and discovered that staring directly into the camera confronts and draws the viewer in to my dialogue. In the final presentation of my artwork, with the head towering above the viewer and encroaching on their space, I hoped to create a dominating effect so that the viewer feels overpowered by my message.
Also known as Giclee prints or bubble-jet prints, pigment ink-jet prints are generated by computer printers from digital or scanned files using dye-based or pigment-based inks. A series of nozzles spray tiny droplets of ink onto the paper surface in a precise pattern that corresponds to the digital image file. In dye-based prints the ink soaks into the paper, whereas in pigment-based prints the ink rests and dries on top of the paper surface.
Whilst the term is broad, pigment ink-jet prints have come to be associated with prints produced on fine art papers. They are the most versatile and archival method of printing available to photographers today. A wide variety of material on which an image can be printed with such inks are available, including various textures and finishes such as matte photo paper, watercolour paper, cotton canvas or pre-coated canvas.
