My work aims to bring to light issues associated with sexual assault and its psychological effects on the mind. My show, Patching a Damaged Heart, speaks about identity, body image, depression, shame, guilt, and fear. To express these feelings, I made a series of seven large figurative charcoal drawings on paper.
I enjoy working in charcoal because details emerge from darkness, heightening the emotional drama of the figure. The idea of figures coming out of the darkness creates tension and curiosity. Chiaroscuro, a painting and drawing technique used during the Renaissance, is a method of dramatic lighting that incorporates a high contrast of light and dark.
The scale of the work is also important. The life-sized drawings heighten emotional response because it puts the work on a human scale. This makes the viewer identify with the emotions being represented. I used myself as a model because I did not want to ask someone else to be that vulnerable. By putting myself in the role of the victim, I had to act out the emotions for the photos, which gave me a small insight into the experience. I made Patching a Damaged Heart to show support and raise awareness for those who have experienced sexual assault.
