My paintings explore the discourses surrounding our existence as mortal beings and centres around the raw physicality of the marks that are left on our minds and bodies throughout our lifetime. I have kept to a light, subtle palette to sensitively impose a sense of acceptance to our natural ‘imperfection’ but often taught insecurities. I work to incorporate the Abject to provoke a conversation about “what real beauty is”. I do this by mimicking the process of scaring within my work. I apply delicate and subtle tones that elicit ideas of ‘pure’, untouched skin that is associated with the flawless skin promoted by society’s ideals of beauty. However, throughout the production of a piece, I damage the unscathed layer by adding, tearing and darkening areas to reveal scars, breaks and age spots that aim to symbolise the physical break of our societies understanding of ‘beauty’.
