Abstract

Gender stereotypes and ideas related to traditional gender roles are often responsible for influencing personal experiences and perceptions of gender identity. Partially a consequence of the propagation of masculine and feminine stereotypes in contemporary marketing, mass media and education systems, this omnipresence of gendered biases in mainstream culture is underpinned by a definite lack of existing intersubjectivity between individuals directly aware and individuals not directly aware of gender-related issues. As a result of this, attempts at discussing the impacts of gendered experiences are frequently overshadowed or met with general disregard. Research concerned with semiotics, gender issues, the use of metaphor in visual art, and symbols of gender identity informs a series of highly colorful large-scale still life drawings which function to communicate an awareness and understanding of issues related to gender identity, gender stereotypes and traditional gender roles. Referencing stylistic choices and practices of artists affiliated with movements such as Photorealism and Pop-art (including artists such as Audrey Flack, Cindy Wright, Andy Warhol, and Claes Oldenburg), this body of work manipulates distinctly familiar and absurd gendered imagery in an effort to create a set of universally relatable visual metaphors that encourage audiences to examine the current discourse surrounding gender-related issues.

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