The Goddess Series has evolved from the Anima/Persona Series. This series began as an exploration of the persona (external projection of self) and the anima (inner soul). These digital collage portraits were influenced in part by Symbolist paintings. As a young art student, I was fascinated by the symbolist painters. I later learned that many of these artists worked from misogynist fears stemming from their discovery that the Victorian notion that women did not have a sexual nature was untrue, and of the nascent women’s movement for equality. In the Symbolistwork I was interested in their reaction against the mundane, the banal, and bourgeoisie normalcy of the late 19th century. The elements of Symbolism that I retained were expressing the exotic, the spiritual, and esoteric qualities of women.
The Goddess Series is new. All of the images were made in 2018. I am using antique ‘found’ portraits and transforming them into mythological goddesses. I am frustrated and concerned by the regressive and repressive attitudes towards women found in current in political and religious groups today. Creating images of powerful women is my small way of fighting back.
