Final Project-Kimberly Rivera

'VICTOR TORRES'

'Illustration Drawing'

'Abstract Duct Tape'

'Untitled Muse'

Influential Artists

The exploration of various ideas has led the subject of my project to be my muse, Victor Torres. He is the masculine version of my self portraiture. By assembling materials that consists of the spectacle, and media, I used different influential artists to create this piece. Every detail in my artwork was inspired by the following artists: Shantell Martin, Kevin Sampson, Joshua Miels, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Ana Medieta and Dread Scott "The idea of self as a convenience has a strong appeal" (Finkelstein 135). Personal identity allows me to see myself in another person. One by one, each artist's work guided me to the end result.

The process of the project was overwhelming, but exhilarating. In the beginning, my interest sparked from Shantell Martin's unique drawings from using only a black marker. Also, Joshua Miels, a contemporary portrait artist who captures the emotions of human beings through his paintings. Instead of a black marker, I used a colorful palette. As the canvas, I displayed Victor Torres to be the work of art. The vivid colors that were drawn on his face reminded me of Andy Warhol's pop art so I divided his face into four series. After I took a photo, the images resembled the work of Dread Scott. The Wanted, created on 2014 as a community-based project. exhibited these photographs to look like mug shots. He drew innocent individuals with untrue and misrepresented information that are often used in police sketches. As a violent scene, I drew a silhouette shooting target figure to represent Ana Medieta's unforgotten artwork. These pictures were not enough to stand alone so I used Kevin Sampon's idea of using random objects to create an assemblage. I used an old USPS priority mail box to show the photos and duct tape to add abstract. I crossed out the words like Jean-Michel Basquiat then wrote "Muse" throughout the platform and used a black sharpie to draw uncoordinated illustrations. The thought-process was so simple-minded until I realized that it did not have to be that way.

This art piece would categorize as a collage and mixed media. Based on the different compositions, it conveys a message of representation. "Publicity persuades us of such a transformation by showing us people who have apparently been transformed and are, as a result, eviable" (Berger 131). The subject appears attractive and artistic. He is an advertisement for consumers who want be a muse. Therefore, the method is to draw on one's face, and take a selfie so there can be a chance to be talked about in a room full of people one day.

This self-portrait tells a story to the audience. Every feature has a meaning, it just takes time to understand what it means. The difference between my first self-portrait and this current self-portrait are the subject, awareness, and assemblage. I used a male as a model, the awareness is not focused on mental illness, but exposure, and the objects are easy to use materials. I did not want to only focus on myself as a person who has a lot things going on in their mind. Throughout this semester, the appreciation for art influenced these changes that helped me explore my own artistry.

The media and its images influence identity and self presentation by promoting someone or something as an unrealistic public display. "Glamour cannot exist without personal social envy being a common and widespread emotion" (Berger 148). The spectacle is a mass media that produces exaggerated content that captures consumers' interest. It is shown in advertisements, social media, and promotional fields. My project exists in the spectacle as a display that shows detailed aspects of my muse, Victor. Society tends to admire the idea of becoming known. My artwork depicts the standards of connecting with an individual who has the ability to expose your status and aspiration. Art is meaningful especially if it is about you.

References

Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. Penguin, 1972.

Finkelstein, Joanne. The Art of Self Invention: Image and Identity in Popular Visual Culture. Tauris, 2007.