Self Portrait

“Parts of a Portion ~ Melding”

By Rachel Cox

Each element of this piece is meant to illustrate the juxtapositions and strange mixture of genetics and intellectually developed ideas of identity.  The face and body are meant to present the realism of the subject, the physical, real matter that is me.  My skin condition, a couple of grey hairs, sweat, my changing weight and makeup caught in the deep creases under my eyes illustrate what I never wanted, but are part of me.  Yet the skin tone, cupid’s bow, thick hair, open eyes, and partial smile are all physical attributes that I enjoy, but I never asked for.  All the paint strokes on my face, shoulders and chest were made with intention of my outward appearance and how the inner beauty and ugly seeps out.

The light wash of purple for the background color is symbolic of the societal ideas of femininity   and royalty.  Around my head there is a bubble, a halo and a moon.  A bubble to represent protection, forced safety and innocence/ignorance, a halo to represent wisdom and age (in contradiction to the bubble) and a moon to display simple beauty and all its imperfections.  I was not raised with religion and biblical stories, yet these ancient stories and their symbolism never ceases to amaze me, hence the halo in part to show my unwavering dedication to place in symbolic items.  With the moon, I have always felt influenced by the moon and its cycles.  Ever since I was little, I have enjoyed laying outside at night, staring up at that big, fat, glowing moon.

Surrounding this circular energy, is gold stars and a few shooting stars.  Depending on the angle the shooting stars appear to be sperm-like.  Sperm attempting to penetrate the egg. The place of all creation, the beginning place.