Perfect Yet?
Artist:
Quinn Arnoldi-Laslett, Year 9
Member School:
Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School
Exhibition Year:
2024
Medium:
Mixed media sculpture
The general theme for my installation piece is gender inequality, a topic I am extremely passionate about due to its relevance in today’s day and age. Gender equality is a human right, and it is devastating that it doesn’t exist in today/s society. I aim to spread awareness and provoke thoughts on gender inequality, through my piece entitles, ‘Perfect yet?’. ‘Perfect yet?’ focusses on a particular aspect of gender inequality – societal beauty standards. Beauty norms, while applicable to all genders, are often disproportionally targeted towards women. unrealistic ideals of beauty can generate low self-esteem and lack of confidence, which in turn can have negative implications for mental health. Toxic beauty standard promote the idea that one needs to look a certain way, often very specific and unattainable, to be deemed beautiful. But what is beauty? Societal beauty standards perpetuate unrealistic ideals, fostering body image dissatisfaction and self-esteem issues. These standards often propagate narrow definitions of beauty, reinforcing discrimination and exclusion. Moving forward and away from toxic societal standards is an essential part of gender equality. My piece prompts the viewer to question what perfection truly is. I have focused on various objects, such as cosmetic injections and lipstick, that are archetypal symbols of beautification. Then a metal sheet with graffiti (juxtaposing the aesthetic of the objects) asking the audience to interrogate the idea of beatification – and does perfection even exist? My piece is aimed at everyone – who will connect with it in different ways.