Abstract

This body of artwork seeks to use symbolism and visual language to explore contemporary construction of identity as influenced by fairy tales and folklore. At the center of this inquiry is the way in which identity and selfhood is created in a social context. Thus, the study of social constructionism as well as theories of identity construction underpins the work, with a particular focus on looking at how narratives play a part in the shaping of identity. The lens of visual culture serves as the platform for this exploration, which is processed and informed by the visual as well as narrative canon of historical fairytale and folklore, as well as contemporary more colloquial ‘fairytale’ (ie. fictionalized hyperbolic social narrative). The written word, as one artifact of these narratives, plays prominently in the research as well as final execution of each piece. Additionally, the spoken word is utilized in the research of many pieces, as direct dialogue and interviews with the subjects of the works inform the conceptual direction. Using a variety of media (primarily but not entirely 2D), this series is a collection of voices and identities that have been shaped by the social narratives of western culture. It asks the viewer to question which narratives they subscribe to, which they break free from, and how those decisions shape their world.

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