My project is a series of whimsical yet eerie digital illustrations that utilize historical, mythological, and cultural imagery of femininity to examine girlhood’s horror. I am not offering a solution but rather a representation of how inherently horrific and traumatizing girlhood and the transition into womanhood is. A visual discussion of how poorly society treats feminine people and how this is something that has happened time and time again. I aim to create a feeling of catharsis and mutual understanding for other women and those socialized as such. Prompting dialog, internal reflection, and sharing of experiences. The work will utilize elements of the horrific without focusing on depicting the explicit acts being referenced verbatim, as this would retraumatize and alienate the group that the work is for. Ultimately, my project will create new understandings of common tropes historically and currently forced upon women by society.
