Artist's Statement

​

Central Question

What is intimacy to you?

When my audience sees my work, I hope that they will recognize this type of imagery and reflect upon their own experiences of intimacy and feelings. If they don't associate with the imagery, then I hope intimacy in another light. The reflections posted about the intimacy I share with my art can offer another perspective to the meaning of intimacy.  

Literature

As natural and universal as it is, intimacy is something people keep out of the limelight. Are people afraid of it? Why are people so hush-hush about it? I figured that it’s more of sexual intimacy that people choose to hide, as all other things sex-related. It’s so prevalent among relationships that there shouldn’t be a reason to shun it. One of the basic needs of a human is social connection and intimacy plays an important role within a connection, allowing partners to show their vulnerability and confide in each other (Gordon, L. H.). Then again, partners have different definitions of intimacy in which they can display their love and sexuality (Lippert, T. & Prager, K.). The dynamics of such definitions can be displayed through exhibitions like the Yossi Milo Gallery. The Intimacy exhibition explores “sex, sexuality, and the body” with its curated works, focusing on how many these relationships were ended because of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s-90s (“Intimacy”.). Another artist, Robert Mapplethorpe, used black and white photography to show the beauty of human anatomy, especially with nudes and the reiteration of S&M ("Biography”). Reducing intimacy to a black and white nature like photography or even figure drawing promotes the feeling itself (“Figure Drawing”). Such form reminds us of something that we forget is always here with us (Lev, M.).

Methods

A big part of my project reflects upon my experiences with intimacy through the creation of my art. I studied shots from films and photoshoots to practice drawing with new materials: charcoal sticks and pencils and newsprint paper. I wanted to also represent intimacy between myself and my art so I included notes about how my materials felt in my hand, textures, how my body felt, and how my mind felt, all during my drawing process. 

​

Audience & Impact

My main audience is young adults and young lovers. I hope they appreciate intimacy now rather than when they are older, reflecting on their youth. As much as today’s culture celebrates sexuality, they take the acknowledgment of intimacy for granted. And as much as intimacy is portrayed in the media, it’s scripted to look genuine.  I want my audience to reflect upon their experiences and think about intimacy’s impact. Intimacy brings two people so close that if and when they separate, it brings pain. Both the good and the bad are encapsulated within intimacy and we’ve all felt it. I also want them to know that one can experience intimacy with something instead of someone, just as I did creating these drawings. People are capable of sharing unique experiences without another person involved, and my process revealed this to me.

​

References

• “Biography.” The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, http://www.mapplethorpe.org/biography/. Accessed 02 Nov. 2020.

• “Figure Drawing Techniques, History.” Figure Drawing: Techniques, History, www.visual-arts-cork.com/figure-drawing.htm. 

• Gordon, Lori H. “Intimacy: The Art of Relationships.” Psychology Today, 2016, www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/196912/intimacy-the-art-relationships. 

• “Intimacy.” Artsy, https://www.artsy.net/show/yossi-milo-gallery-intimacy. Accessed 8 Apr. 2021.

• Lev, Michal. Painting Intimacy: Art-Based Research of Intimacy. 2019. Lesley University, PhD dissertation. 

• Lippert, Tonya & Prager, Karen. “Daily experiences of intimacy: A study of couples.” Personal Relationships, vol. 8, pp. 283-298. 

​

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the couple I used as my models for my project for allowing me to do this in the first place. I'd also like to thank faculty, especially Gabi for steering me in the right direction and encouraging me along the way. And thank you to my peers for inspiring me to be a great artist; you all are so wonderful and I truly enjoyed these past two years with you.