This piece is inspired by “The Scream” by Edvard Munch. The use of a neutral and dark color palette was to establish the feeling of gloom, fear, and disruption. The main elements of the piece are black and white to contrast the earthy warm-toned background. This also somewhat mimics the original “Scream” piece as the background uses color and the figure is fully black and tan. The actual drawing itself is of an individual with its mouth stretched open as if it is screaming with bodies coming out of its mouth. I am interested in the distortion and disfiguration body, especially the female body. There is constant discourse surrounding the female body: how it should exist in the world and ways to make it suitable for the observer. Very often this discourse removes the body from the human occupying it, treating the body as if it is under communal ownership of everyone that perceives it and not solely belonging to the individual. By distorting the body and removing the individual’s face, it becomes suitable for the observer to look at it yet makes it unappealing for them to look. Additionally, the anguish of the individual in the piece makes it distressing for an observer to find satisfaction in their perception of the body as they are complicit in its pain.
