Beauty Architect

Who gets to be the architect of Beauty? My editioned work, “Beauty Architect,” is a pressure print combined with multimedia aspects that align with contemporary ideas of feminism, specifically liberal feminism that supports the individual and their rights to be who they are. Beautiful is what every individual is and I will defend that statement to my core. Beauty, as the cliche saying states, is in the eye of the beholder. The beholders of beauty are all of us and we deserve to have our own opinions that are not swayed by the industries and power abusers of our time. This work expresses the concern with these industries and what society as a whole has decided that beauty is. Will we let it be those in the sales industry, those who want to make people insecure to promote the sales of clothes, make-up, and beauty altering surgeries or processes, decide for us? No, we are our own architects of beauty. This is what this art is all about; the concerns of the mental health and self image of all who fall prey to the un-realities of industries’ portrayal of optimal beauty. I want to defend all those who deserve to have high self esteem and know that we are beautiful. “Beauty Architect” depicts a double self portrait with her hand covering her mouth with the words ‘Plump,’ ‘Plucked,’ ‘Primed,’and ‘Perfect’ to question the beauty industries that decide what beautiful is for all. But there is hope for the individuals’ idea of beauty wrapped in the Rosie the Riveter bandana on her head. This work and its detailed and extensive process let me lean into the idea that I am beautiful and worthy of self love, so that I can learn how to accept who I am and love it. The colors and use of the traditionally female pastime of sewing, with the ribbon and thread, are symbols of power and change and are included in this work to support the feminist movement and ideas that are expressed in “Beauty Architect.” This artwork is a lesson in and an expression of myself, but I hope it encourages others to take a second to question whose thoughts and ideas are placed into their minds when they look in the mirror. I hope it is their own.