Venus as a Boy
Abby T.
Charcoal
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The character in this piece, depicted as having found beauty in who they truly are, is inspired by the song "Venus as a Boy" by Björk. Like an oceanine goddess, the figure is embellished with seashells and pearls and has embodied the natural, serene form of their soul. The intentional negative space suggests the character is defending themselves against an unseen force: a world that has not yet learned to see them as they are. While I was making this piece, Björk repeatedly sang “He believes in a beauty, he’s Venus as a boy” into my ears. These lyrics redefine beauty beyond gender boundaries, and propelled me to create an androgynous, ethereal figure who’s posing as if they’re defending their own becoming. My piece represents the art self-discovery and depicts it as both a refuge and a shield.
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To me, creativity is the ability to project my individualism onto my actions. Articulating my abstract thoughts, emotions, and experiences as a visual or physical representation through visual art is often how I express my creativity and show the world who I am.
