Description
“artistic RAGE” explores art as a medium to channel feelings of the artist and the world it was created in, the most powerful of which being rage. I conveyed the themes of rage and protest through various ways. In the background, I used explosive jagged shapes cut out of textured cardboard to both evoke broken glass at protests and also sparks, inspired by the phrase “A single spark can start a prairie fire.” Behind it, I painted works by artists like Artemisia Gentileschi, Keith Haring, and Banksy, among others – pieces which especially display rage and a want for change – in a low-contrast color palette to serve as background noise motivating the subject in the front. The subject is the embodiment of the artist and is painted with a fire-and-ice palette that reflects both the destructive and constructive sides of rage. She is also created out of negative space, which balances chaos and control in a way that reveals the bigger picture while stripping away distractions. I was especially inspired by punk art and the impulsiveness of it in my piece, as well as the directed rage of punk culture. To capture that, I wanted the materials and composition to feel immediate and unpolished, like a protest sign made in the heat of the moment. I hope my piece encourages viewers to see how rage, when focused, can be a powerful tool for change.
