ESSENCE YOUNG
Artist statement:
“Don't let your children watch television until they know how to read.
Or else all they'll know how to do is cuss, fight, and breed.
No child is bad from the beginning.
They only imitate their atmosphere.”
- Prince Rogers Nelson
The focus of this series covers three main themes. First, the topic of violence seen at an early age on television which is shown through the popular cartoon, Tom and Jerry. Second, the racist and offensive work of a beloved children's book author, Dr. Seuss. And lastly, the issue of consent and sexual assault in the Disney film, Sleeping Beauty. After my trial weeks of printmaking, I was intrigued by the screen printing process. Using this technique, I brought back pieces of my childhood through a brand new form of expression I was unfamiliar with, which allowed me to do a lot of experimenting. This was challenging for me since I had to rethink and be comfortable with the feeling of being lost and having to find my way out of the dark.
I enjoyed being able to manipulate layers and text at the same time to create contrast between the messy and imperfect handwriting and a commercialized main image. Through the use of thought bubbles and editor’s notes, I respond to these unsettling depictions to give people my own initial reaction to the seriousness of these books and films. I then incorporated text which highlights international activist movements, Black Lives Matter and #METOO, topics that are highly important to me and deserve more attention.
In my series I also wanted my pieces to be stripped of bold color which is commonly seen in these films and books. I want people to see the wicked and unnoticed side of these childhood figures. So by taking away the bright and friendly part of my own youth, I’m finally capable of seeing the terrifying truth.
These three topics sadly made up my own upbringing, I was completely clueless of the mature and inappropriate content within them. It wasn’t until I got older and noticed how utterly ridiculous they are. We only imitate our atmosphere.
Access/Print 2019/2020 Virtual Exhibition
Fall 2019 artists: Wini Mae Bettenburg, Violet Dolan, Essence Young
Spring 2020 artists: Alexandra Alvarado, Frankie Palmer, Milena Myankova