Handkerchief

2013

intaglio print

13x7in.

Still exploring the concepts of the ugly and abject but from a different perspective. Skulls and demons are stereotypically “ugly” mostly because of preconceived notions passed down through generations which now automatically trigger us to associate these images with certain “dark” concepts. But why are certain physical features considered just as unsightly? Big noses. Big lips, in certain respects. A heavy brow. Natural features that are somehow uncomfortable to look at. At the time this print was made, my nose was the mostly unsightly feature on my face according to others so I wanted to bring it front and center with the excessive snot. I wanted to immerse the audience in these “ugly” features. To have the viewer get so deep they’re submerged in it. The title comes from the tissue I obviously need to wipe the mucus from my face, but also the handkerchief some viewers need to wipe their minds clean of such biases.