Shamefully Red
Evan T.
Acrylic on Canvas
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My piece, “Shamefully Red”, encapsulates my journey managing acne and my skin’s impact on my identity. Many people have their own, personal struggles with acne; it is a challenge that knows no bounds and doesn’t discriminate in who it affects. While those who have not dealt with acne may see the condition as ‘just skin’, significant emotions and shared experiences stem from it. I desperately tried a multitude of serums, treatments, medications, and creams, but my acne was resilient. It felt as if my acne refused to back down, as if it needed to declare that I was bad and it was not just a surface-level issue I could fix. I taught myself to skillfully cover my acne over the years with a cocktail of products, reflected in this piece. This piece communicates the feelings of frustration, overwhelm, and shame acne can cause and highlights acnes impact on one’s identity.
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Creativity is not just a passion one holds for an artistic outlet but a learned skill that seeps into other aspects of life. Creative outlets enable diverse studies and promote an open approach to new experiences rather than allowing one to be set in a narrow profession.
