o, break, my heart

o, break, my heart is an exploration of my own psyche and how it has been shaped by Southern culture. Femininity in the South is rooted deeply in family and faith. I have never truly fit into these ideals, even when trying. I have always found the idea of performative womanhood to be uncomfortable and exhausting. I carry with me a deep frustration with adolescence. These images reveal my secret fears and desires and thoughts, things I have never told anyone or even put into words. I chose to make still lifes as I enjoy the idea of creating a visual language that others can interpret and relate to their own experiences. These images were created entirely in my dorm room with natural window light, but become entryways into my mind.I created images that are obsessive and disturbing, a perversion of faith and understanding. They juxtapose classical understanding of still life with contemporary and personal struggles.