Artist Statement

Holly Quinn

Artist Statement

            When I look in the mirror, I see a distorted figure.  I see a big nose, a hunchback, and a swollen body.  Body dysmorphic disorder is my demon, however, I want to slay this demon and make my imperfections beautiful.  This disorder is a mental disease in which one views them self completely contrary to reality.  Through my art, I share my perception with the world of how I see myself physically, because I do not see Holly.  I see a monster.

            My ink drawings depict versions of me in my distorted image.  Throughout my work, the figure changes because I see my self differently everyday.  In my drawings my character is positioned in simple poses such as sitting on a couch or staring at a dress that is four sizes too small.  I pay close attention and apply more detail into certain areas such as the nose, stomach, breast, and calves because these are the areas of my body that I am most insecure.  I pay less attention to hands and feet in the drawings because those parts of the body never trigger my body dysmorphic disorder.  I concentrate on elements of the body that are hard to look at such as stretch marks, cellulite, and varicose veins because these are the kinds of imperfections that make us real. 

I understand my insecurities are extreme, however, I believe that every human being has had an insecure moment about his or her body at some point in time.  As an artist, I want to share and embrace that insecurity with people.  I want to transform what I see as ugly into something beautiful, and I want my viewers to realize that they are not alone with their insecurities.  Sometimes we forget that other people are going through the same problems we are about our physical self.  I want to release, explode, and transform the ugliness of the human form.