“I feel like riding through the waves, my body never caves. I’m in control of me, that is the key.”

In this portfolio, I investigated the body modification that occurs during decay and identified how different body parts decompose, such as the head (image 1-4), the hands (image 5), the mid-section (image 7-11), the leg (image 12), and the foot (image 14). I experimented with items and practices that manipulate the surface, namely, different types of thread, rips, fasteners, clay, etc. My various forms of revision and experimentation can be seen in sketchbook slides displayed above. As the pieces progress, I peel through the layers of the body from top to bottom, exposing humanity’s fragility and temporariness. Image 1 identifies flaws in the human psyche (mental illness), decomposition of organs & finally loss of psyche. Image 3 shows loss of facial features, a key aspect of identity. Image 5 depicts unraveled DNA, undoing humanity. Images 3, 5, and 8 further the idea of layers-ripped paper exposes new views of the human body (i.e. inversion). Images 3, 8, 12, and 14 show illness and frailty. The fake botanics used in images 7 and 10 follow the path of blood and signify vitality pre-death. In image 14, bones turn to sand and while simultaneously identifying humanity’s temporariness.

Stippling is used throughout the portfolio to emphasize realism. Its time consumption mirrors the slow process of human decay both emotional and also physical after death. I used black backgrounds draw focus to the subjects within the pieces and reference the formatting and presentation of x-rays. The contrast between the two shades emphasizes the hints of pink, scattered throughout the art works, symbolizing blood and love. Ultimately, the pieces contribute to a full skeleton and reflect the multiplicity of human decay, questioning what remains of humanity after death.