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Amanda Spawforth[ read project statement ]
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| 'My First School Photo' Acrylic on Canvas 100 x 70cm 2008 |
PROJECT STATEMENT
My current series of paintings is all based on contemporary society's sexualising of young children in the media, for example the poses from clothing brochures to the underage models being used on catwalks. Children's outfits are now being made more revealing, more sexy and more adult. This in turn is forcing children to assume more adult roles from a younger age making children more sexually aware and more provocative, for example in Stanley Kubriks, Lolita. The children within my work are all painted looking from the image, returning the gaze of the viewers, which originally, in painting, was a taboo issue in itself as it automatically looses the innocence and naivety expected from children. This in turn creates an entirely different context and meaning within the painting, making it more erotic, sexual and confrontational, traits not often associated with children. The children in all my paintings have complete control in the situations they are featured in and shows the early learning process that children endure. Whether the children know the implications of the situations they are participating in is debatable and up to the audience to judge.
Another example of the sexualisation of children is the outfits that are being created for adults that clearly promotes the sexuality of children, such as school uniforms or nurses outfits, which were originally created for children as either a necessity or for childs play or Dress up. Something created for innocent fun is now being used as a method of sexual provocation between adults. A link that closely between children and sex should not be encouraged.
My work first and foremost therefore about how the innocent actions are now interpreted differently and instead of being seen as innocent there are always sexual connotations and innuendos behind every action. Using an adult as a child in my pictures shows how, now the roles of children and adults in society have been mingled. The sexualising of children is being done in every form and is gradually encouraging children too soon for their age. My work brings attention to children's increasing awareness of more adult situations and the effect it is having on their childhood as well as the lowering age of sexual maturity.