My main goal for this project is through my perspective and my personal experiences to explore and challenge the concept of “Stereotypes”. I hope to use art as a platform to present the impact of stereotypes. Not only are the labels imposed by society, but they are also important experiences in shaping personal identity. My inspiration comes from my personal experiences and the emotional responses that arise from them. I hope my artwork can draw people’s attention and let people realize the harm and seriousness of stereotypes.
In terms of artistic expression, I choose painting as my medium because of its ability to visually present complex thoughts and emotions. The tactile nature of painting allows for superposition, lending, and dynamic expression, which also reflect the multifaceted nature of stereotypes. In my creative choices, I used the “division” approach to show some of society’s one-sided “cognition” of men and women. For example, through visual separation and contrast, I explored how people use stereotypes to categorize people into specific frameworks. At the same time, it ignores the diversity of gender identities and individual uniqueness. This creative expression intuitively reveals the limitations of this one-sided cognition and allows the audience to feel the unfairness brought about by stereotypes.
In the process of creating this work, I reflected deeply on my personal experiences with stereotypes, while also researching how stereotypes are represented in art and culture. This reflection led me to conceive of a concept that combines abstraction and figuration to highlight the personal and universal nature of stereotypes. I drew inspiration from artists we talked about in our seminar, such as Kara Walker, whose work delves into race, power, gender, and the perpetuation of stereotypes. Through her iconic silhouettes, she challenges viewers to confront the history and reality of oppression, highlighting how stereotypes and social roles undifferentiated people. Similarly, I use the technique of “division” in my work to show the one-sided perception of men and women in society.
Additionally， I was also inspired by a 93-year-old artist. This artist has been combating stereotypes through painting for over sixty years. The artist’s work highlights art as a powerful tool to confront and challenge societal prejudices, a concept that resonates with my artistic goals. Their lifelong commitment to exposing the harms of stereotypes through art and my desire to use art to make people aware of the impact of these societal labels (Goddard College).
Through this project, I hope to combine personal narratives with artistic techniques to create visuals about the universality and harmfulness of stereotypes. By guiding viewers through the process, I hope to not only criticize stereotypes but also advocate for empathy and understanding in a diverse and connected world.
Work Cited
Goddard College. “93-Year-Old NYC Artist Has Spent Six Decades Fighting Stereotypes Through Painting.” Goddard College, 9 July 2020, goddard.org/press-releases/93-year-old-nyc-artist-has-spent-six-decades-fighting-stereotypes-through-painting/.
Walker, Kara. A Subtlety, 2014, Domino Sugar Factory, Brooklyn, NY.
Walker Art Center. “Silhouettes and Stereotypes.” Walker Art Center, 17 Dec. 2015, walkerart.org/magazine/silhouettes-and-stereotypes.
