My concentration explores the different perspectives of female identity through the abstraction of a blossomed flower— the common symbol for women.  At first glance, the flower seems delicate, beautiful, and elegant, reflecting a woman’s soft nature.  However, after slowly revealing the core of the flower by removing the protective layers, it is found to be raw and powerful.  Therefore, the female identity consists of not only the soft and nurturing persona, but also a range of the fierce and passionate persona.



               My first concentration piece depicts the symbol for femininity and womanhood. The white color and numerous petals reveal the perceived view of women as simply delicate and elegant. I began to add colors of passion (red) and determination (blue), as I took away the petals to reveal the inner core of the flower. Also, I experimented with different ways to showcase the core to show that the strength of women should be displayed rather than hidden behind layers of societal expectations. I chose to cut open the thrown core to symbolize this idea. As my technique developed, I thought about my forms and their relationship to space, incorporating negative space while maintaining the balance of the stands. I also considered the relationship between two separate pieces as I took apart the core and the base. I created the green pedestal to resemble flower petals and placed the core on top showing that women have the ability to rise above societal expectations. From this, I abstracted the base using the flowing lines found in a flower and incorporated contrasting colors to show that women can be strong, passionate and powerful. My pieces detailed with glass showcases a balance between the delicate and the passionate sides of a woman. The glass beads aid in the idea of a celebrated woman who has found her happy medium in which both sides of herself co-exist.