2013

 

Living Doll is Courtney's current project. She is the subject in her work, hidden by the mask that is her childhood; role models, expectations, desires… It is a multi-layered commentary on the influence of the problematic idealized role models we are presented with as children; the ideals that we internalize, only for them to expose themselves as we start to develop our own personal identities. I create my identity and appearance based on what I know, drawing represents this crusade to embody what I see and am provided.

 

The act of drawing represents Courtney's creation of her identity from the role models she has been provided with in her cildhood. She now wears the “straight jacket mask”, a mask that allows her to conform, to become accepted/able, to embody what we come to believe is beauty through watching Disney movies (or being exposed to any other type of advertisement). No matter what she does she must be perfect.