Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Rebecca Zeno, Student Work. Response to Touch Chapter, A Natural History of the Senses.



Beauty vs. Insecurity
Photograph



“Each of us has an exaggerated mental picture of our body…Touch fills our memory with a detailed key as to how we’re shaped. A mirror would mean nothing without touch. We are forever taking the measure of ourselves in unconscious ways.” 
- A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman

Artist Statement:
Bandages are used for healing and protection as well as to cover up marks, scars, or blemishes that society deems inappropriate. I wrapped the face entirely in gauze, with bandages over the eyes, covering up all skin areas to the point where you can no longer recognize the person. The images are meant to provoke thoughts about expectations of beauty and insecurities within oneself.





Shield
Photograph


“Anesthetics…block the body’s ability to send high-frequency pain signals to the brain or will not allow sodium to flow into the nerve cell. Some drugs manage to confuse the signals given at different stages of the pain message.” 
- A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman

Artist Statement:
Understanding pain is confusing and complex. In this piece, I wanted to emphasize that confusion through masking tape. Here, the masking tape acts as a shield to pain, as would drugs or medication, but at what cost? Is the protective shield a good or bad thing? The piece does not answer the question, but instead raises awareness about how we protect ourselves or mask pain.  

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