Got My Back
Anna M.
Acrylic Paint
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Going into this painting, I didn't have a specific intention or significance in mind. Starting out, I had the idea to flip the perspective of a self portrait and show a part of myself that I am not so used to seeing; my back. After spending multiple weeks completing this piece, I had more time to look at my back than I ever had before. It had me considering the different sides of myself that only other people can see (which applies physically as well as emotionally). I also considered in this piece what exactly the limits of self-portraiture are. Self-portraits that I have done in the past have always followed the same format of just my face, clear and easy to see. But without a face, a self-portrait raises as many questions for its viewers as it answers. It makes them wonder what is being hidden, what is behind the scenes as much as what is shown. Having that bit of mystery also creates a sense of privacy for me as the artist, as though I am facing away from the audience by turning my back towards them. These aspects make this piece both very vulnerable and protective at the same time. Vulnerable in that i am putting a part of myself on display that even I am not used to seeing, as well as protective because of the fact that my face and features are hidden from view.
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Creativity to me means self-expression. Creativity is important to have both in art and in every day life. The ability to express yourself as honestly and truly as possible is a skill that is built over time through practice, and all people need creativity in order to communicate freely.
