Venus

2001
Acrylic, collage on canvas
14" x 11"
Collection of Wanda Rosa

This is one of several images that I created, using the female torso as the main composition. In this case, the female torso is used as a surface on which to explore violence against women. This particular piece, oddly enough, was inspired by a segment of the Maury Povich Show on which the guests were all victims of domestic violence. One young guest talked about her experience as having been robbed of her self-esteem and being subjected to physical abuse by a man that she claimed to love. Appalled by the dialogue, I chose to include some of it on the image, along with collaged words like "power", "control" and others that speak to the domination and subjugation involved in these abusive relationships.