Framed digital print

Artist Statement

The Reflective Steps of Splendid Visuals is a digital image that explores many women’s fear of fleeting beauty. At the ripe age of twenty with a tretinoin prescription and a daily collagen supplement, I look back on fourth grade. Fourth grade was one of the first times I remember looking at a classmate and wishing I looked like them. After some reflection, I have decided to take unique steps toward self-love. With a gua sha in one hand and a knife in the other. The schoolgirl fantasized, rosy-cheeked woman is grasping at the tools of beauty. The gua sha initially used in traditional Chinese medicine became a trend on Tik-Tok, taking the platform by storm with its ability to cure your double chin. The urge to complete a never-ending cycle of trial and error in search of bliss.This obsession with beauty tools, eye creams, and serums takes up time, ultimately leading to obsession. You must stare down the barrel of self-love to achieve unattainable beauty. You must be selfish.

Artist Bio

Abigail Claire and Emily Madeline are young, Canadian artists focusing on creating realism-style paintings, portrait photographs and sculptures. They work with the people around them to create pieces that embrace queerness and femininity while covering topics they find important.