The central idea of my concentration relates to my own exposure to pain. My pieces communicate a journey portraying a physical and mental transformation from naïve optimism to mature realism by means of simple and relatable to complex and individualized themes.
My pieces are the same size to symbolize equal importance of each moment in the journey. The graphite conveys darkness and lack of hope, while hints of color symbolize flashes of optimism. The first piece introduces the journey of recovery with a sharp and in-focus path, while the blurry background signifies unknown obstacles. I incorporated hints of irony in some of my pieces. The electrodes in image 5 have a cartoon-like appearance, ridiculing the severity of the situation. Image 8 depicts the struggle of living with pain, juxtaposing the warmth and calmness of the open hands with the harsh, intense colors of the medication lying within. The colors remind us of the happiness candy brings, but they also hide the bitter reality. Though both images depict irony, the most powerful message they convey is the mental and physical transformation that is taking place. While the scars and muscle atrophy in image 5 and the medication in image 8 represent physical pain, the underlying message focuses on the conscious and unconscious psychological struggle. My final piece relates back to my first, showing the same setting but conveying that recovery is ongoing. The change in composition and background represent the mature realization that recovery is a long journey, and that overcoming adversity means adjusting your viewpoint.
