I created Backbone for my "Loss of Identity" themed IB Art Exhibition.
These prints address the idea of excessive altruism. This is altruism taken to a point where choosing to help others begins to chip away at your own well-being. Being a caretaker or a people pleaser can feel good, even when you are sacrificing parts of yourself to accommodate others.
What unalterable ideals do you stand for regardless of what others want or expect from you? We mold and edit ourselves to fit others’ expectations and perceptions of us. Are the choices you make what you genuinely want rather than what you’ve molded yourself to want?
The line at the bottom of each piece was made with a ruler, to keep it completely neutral. The lines begin to bend further up the piece. The highlighted segment in the center, red or black column, emphasizes this transition. The lines crossing through the column are reminiscent of vertebrae in a backbone, which ties into the intention of the piece.
Initial Idea
Linocut Process
Linocut Test
Drafts 1
Drafts 2
