IB VISUAL ARTS 2025

ISABELLE

Curatorial Rationale

In my artmaking, I am investigating the complex and frequently contradictory nature of contemporary female identity. My body of work explores the interplay between internal self-perception and external societal pressures, examining how women navigate vulnerability, resilience, and the search for authentic self. I present how this identity is often profoundly shaped and further reshaped by our relationships. My exhibition delves into how the critical bonds of friendship and the deep-rooted connection to maternal figures can influence the formation of selfhood. It illustrates how these intimate relationships offer both a shelter from and also a reflection of broader societal expectations, creating an amalgamation of personal and shared experience. The works collectively display the underlying understanding of identity in relation to others and as a member of a collective.

These concepts are linked through a consistent focus on the female form as a vessel for emotional and psychological experience. My investigation is grounded in personal observation, as well as with specific experiences such as witnessing a shared sense of bodily insecurity among peers in an empowerment workshop. This profound moment of collective vulnerability helped in refining my intention in exploring both personal experiences and those that are universally felt. Therefore, this exhibition is negotiation between my own autobiographical perceptions and the broader experiences of a general female population. My goal is to use my personal stories to create a sense of shared understanding, inviting others to find a piece of themselves in the art.

To articulate these ideas, I have used a specific range of materials, focusing on ceramic sculpture, printmaking, and painting. I chose clay for its symbolic qualities; its malleability mirrors the softness of skin and flesh. However, firing makes the clay hard and rigid, making this softness a deception. This paradox embodies the core tension between perceived fragility and fundamental strength. Clay mimics how identity is shaped by external forces, while its fired form represents a hardened resolve. The surfaces of my clay works are left jagged and unrefined, reflecting the raw, imperfect process of self-formation. Printmaking serves as a conceptual tool to explore the transmission of memory and generational identity. Its repetitive process mirrors the cyclical way behaviours and narratives are passed down through maternal figures. Painting captures the intangible, transient feelings of a cherished memory or the emotional warmth of female friendships.

My work is in dialogue with several artistic influences. It references the raw, visceral explorations of the female form by artists Kiki Smith, who similarly uses the body as a primary site to explore themes of fragility, resilience, and the human condition. I have also drawn from Kat Macleod’s book Birds described as "an observation, a record of seeing and dreaming." This principle of quiet, focused observation has guided my own process, encouraging me to not treat each artwork not as a grand statement, but as an honest record of a moment, a feeling, or a relationship.

The exhibition is arranged for narrative purpose in three distinct conceptual layers. In the foreground is the three-dimensional and tactile clay works. The middle layer transitions into a more dreamlike and abstract space, dominated by the softer palettes of the paintings and prints, characterised by blues, pinks, and a gentle or nostalgic quality. Finally, the uppermost layer confronts the viewer with the stark charcoal drawings and engravings. These artworks are dominated by dark, high-contrast tones and pierced by the vibrant red line representing the psychological landscape and focus more on shared experiences.

Additionally, there are repeating symbols that connect throughout the exhibition, such as the single red line that physically links fragmented bodies and the recurring swan motif, which subverts traditional notions of grace to represent defensive strength and also flower symbolism such as the lotus. These symbols act as a visual language, unifying the works and reinforcing the exhibition’s core ideas.

This arrangement is designed to contribute to the viewer's understanding by building conceptual layers progressively. I would like my work to be perceived as an honest and empathetic exploration of the complexities of navigating womanhood today. This collection prompts genuine reflection on shared experiences and illustrates the profound strength that can be found in embracing both vulnerability and our connections to one another.