Into a Kaleidoscope                          

Candie Chen


My name is Candie Chen, I’m from downtown Toronto and I have experience in all sorts of art forms. Such as painting, drawing, animation, photography, film, digital art, sculpture (one which I will be showcasing), and more! Having tried various art forms, I’m more interested in the digital aspect of art, like web designs, graphic design and digital art related things.
“Reflections”

This piece is about body dysmorphia, which is when you can't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance. This ceramic figure displays many different patterns to symbolize the perceived flaws in a woman's appearance. Related to the theme of reflections, this reflects back at how women in society are to have little to no flaws to be deemed attractive.

When making this ceramic piece, I used the coiling method to construct a body-like vase, then smoothed out the bumps and filled in the gaps to create a body silhouette. For the top part, I used the slab method to attach a handle-like design. After creating my desired shape, I add in the textures, by slabbing bits and pieces of clay onto my figure, alongside scoring away bits I find fit. Then it was left to dry to remove excess moisture, then put into a kiln to be fired. After my figure has solidified, I glazed everything so that the finished artwork has a nice shine.

My target audience is women, made to be relatable for women. There are many impacts this could have on the audience. Firstly I want to raise awareness by bringing attention to the issue of body dysmorphia among women, sparking conversations and spreading prevalence. Secondly, to promote self-reflection and to promote the viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of body image and self esteem, encouraging them to consider how societal standards and personal beliefs shape their views of themselves and others. Lastly, I want my piece to promote healing for women struggling with body dysmorphia. The art piece may offer a sense of catharsis or healing by providing a creative
outlet to express complex emotions and experiences related to their struggles.