Somatic Wounds

With the constant re-emergence of the Coronavirus, human life is consistently changing. Mental health for many individuals has begun to deteriorate. This is due to the constant orders to social distance and the instructions to stay inside as much as possible. There is also a lack of human interaction when it comes to remote learning; the way we interact as a race is being changed every day because of the virus. This leads to an increase in mental instability and it also raises the anxiety that people feel. This can lead to rising suicide cases and self-harming. Which is the main focus of my paintings, the scars that loneliness can leave on a person. These scars can last and make a person feel vulnerable, it can also lead to many opportunities to self-harm. My protagonists are mainly black young women whose faces are covered in scars, which is a direct contrast to the want to hide scars when they are made. It helps portray the strength that it takes to overcome these scars and own them. Especially when referring to black women, this kind of issue is covered very little if at all which makes it even more important. These paintings are both acrylic and digital which helps emphasize the theme of my paintings. Acrylic dries fast and is rather safe to use, but rough and rigid, which helps display the way a person may look on the outside but the secrecy of their suffering. While digital is forgiving and smooth and flashy at times, this is in addition to the very young and beautiful faces of my characters but the torment they hold.

Title: Do you think I want this, Date: November 22, 2020, Dimensions 873 x 1088 px, Medium: Acrylic paint

Title: Heartache, Date: November 22, 2020 Dimensions 900 x 1200 px, Medium: Digital art

Title: I’ve got cuts to spare, Date: November 22, 2020, Dimensions 1920 x 1920 px, Medium: Acrylic paint and digital

Title: Man vs self, Date: November 22, 2020, Dimensions 1764 x 1585 px, Medium: Acrylic paint and digital

Title: Scars that steal my innocence, Date: November 22, 2020, Dimensions 1920 x 1920 px, Medium: Acrylic paint and digital

Title: The pain of living, Date: November 22, 2020, Dimensions 1920 x 1920 px, Medium: Acrylic paint