Trigger Warning: This page may contain information relating to someone's gender inequitable experiences including suicides. This may be triggering to readers with similar experiences.
This submission is part of the Expressions of Gender Equity art project - a 2021 International Women's Day initiative. We thank all artists who responded to our artistic briefs and are honoured to showcase their work.
Artist Statement
In response to the art brief:
“Inspired by Picasso’s abstract portraits, this is the face of a woman coming from a complex background, with equally complex feelings. She’s dolled up with bright lipstick, and bold mascara, to put on a ‘good face’. But her hair is a mess; representing her complex feelings about the burden of her home life responsibilities despite despising the job that pays the bills. The tear represents her sadness for her situation; an overwhelming yet pent-up grief for the sacrifices made to her emotional well-being just to make ends meet. She spends her downtime questioning her choices.
The background represents different people, each being different in themselves, and seeing, and sometimes judging, the woman from a different vantage point, with their combined experiences, values and attitudes. Each one could judge her, or raise her up.”
Art Brief
Georgia Powell
She’s the Girl?, 2021
Orange, NSW, Australia | Painting
About the Artist:
I am an amateur painter (at best), but also a daughter, a wife, a fitness enthusiast and a veterinarian. I grew up in a family and town with conservative Christian views. I work in an industry dominated by female staff, yet male decision makers. It’s also an industry where businesses can be crippling in their conservatism, or boldly supportive. The veterinary industry is struggling with dramatic changes in the demographic of its workforce as compared to 50years ago; with massive changes in gender balance, as well as changed family expectations. Changing attitudes, combined with changing workloads in the wake of COVID-19, resonate through the work force and are contributing to a state of tension and flux at present time.
Note from the Editor-in-Chief: Featured on the left is Gus, Georgia’s extremely photogenic cat.
