artist statement
My mask represents how I have been socialized as a white, middle class, teenage girl. I have been both positively, and negatively by this because of both stereotypes, and what I’ve been told not matching up; but being exact opposites of each other. Society had told me that I was supposed to be perfect. Which means that I have to wear tons of makeup, and wear designer clothes, and do whatever I could to “Fit in.” But I have always been told to be myself. Not to try to fit in. There’s a quote from Dr. Seuss that my mom used to tell me; it says, “We weren’t born to fit in. We were born to stand out.” This means that we shouldn't try to fit in, because we aren’t supposed to. On my mask, half of the face is a girl with zits, and imperfections, and on the other half is a girl with no zits or imperfections, which society tells us is “perfect” or “beautiful.” But I think the truly beautiful one is both. Because all women, and even men, are beautiful in their own way. And I hope that I can socialize people to believe this along with me.