I had a kind of weird conversation recently with someone. This person was under the impression that I was going to talk about being Jewish with my clients more than I do. Because, otherwise, I appear to just be another white person, someone who doesn't understand being a minority.
Anyway, I made a piece about it... I wanted to make a book where I could be revealed in pieces or as a whole.
I chose a skeleton to represent me because 1) I tried to draw myself and that was a disaster, and 2) because I really wonder how much disclosure she was thinking of. Just mention that I'm Jewish, or go down deep to my identity issues?
(I considered finding a naked person for this, but I felt like that would be too funny and not taken the way I intend.)
After making this I wondered if there was more relationship between making a skeleton to represent my Jewish identity in this book.
The image seemed gruesome to some but I think I am trying to express that I felt like I was being stripped of my individual identity. In this instant, I felt like what I am was more important than who I am. The parts of me that make me look unique (skin, fat, muscle, facial features, clothing) are all stripped away.
I kind of like this skeleton because he looks friendly to me. He has a posture that isn't like the standard medical posture, he's kind of extending a hand. He says, "Hey, let's make some art."
1 comment:
i think that might actually be a female skeleton judging by the shape of the pelvis. and she does look very inviting, but her face is most interesting to me. the brow almost looks like it's furrowed and i think the eye sockets are a little big, which makes the skeletal grin look forced. like she's trying really hard to be what you want her to be, but if she had her way, she wouldn't be smiling.
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