Sarah Maple by Jin, Katia

Menstruate with pride

2358007 — 2024-11-24 19:47:05 UTC

What is it? Maple paints herself in a white dress standing proudly with period blood on the front of her skirt. Those around show the reaction of society in regards to the taboo of women's menstruation.

Connection to the course? As we saw in Blood and Beauty, Maple uses the abject to provoke reaction. In this piece, she takes it a step further by painting those around with exaggerated expressions of disgust rather than just trying to get a reaction from the viewer solely based on the presence of blood. She is confronting society's censorship of periods by showing how she is no longer embarrassed like she was when she was younger. This is displayed with the young girl in front not looking frightened or disgusted, but intrigued and curious to learn more about it.

Highlike.org. “Sarah Maple.” Highlike, highlike.org/text/sarah-maple/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

“Paintings.” Sarah Maple, www.sarahmaple.com/paintings-3. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Røstvik, Camilla Mørk. “Public Menstruation: Visualizing Periods in Art, Activism, and Advertising.” Rethinking the Public Fetus: Historical Perspectives on the Visual Culture of Pregnancy, edited by Elisabet Björklund and Solveig Jülich, Boydell & Brewer, 2024, pp. 225–42. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.4331928.13. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

If I loved you it was because of your hair. Now you no longer have your hair, I don't love you anymore

2358007 — 2024-11-24 20:18:29 UTC

What is it? A woman losing her hair sits staring directly at the viewer. Maple displays how society sees the value of women only in their appearances; how a woman cannot be loved if she is not deemed "attractive" by societal norms.

Connection to the course? This piece is a rebellion against gender-normative roles and norms. The woman reclaims power over the male gaze as she defies the usual beauty standards, and stares at the viewer while doing it. This relates to The Nude as she is seated, relaxed and looks straight to the viewer while she takes back her identity as more than just a beautiful woman.

“If I Loved You It Was Becaus...: Sarah Maple: Gallery ...” If I Loved You It Was Becaus... | Sarah Maple | Gallery ..., galleryviewer.com/en/artwork/36439/if-i-loved-you-it-was-because-of-your-hair. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

“Paintings.” Sarah Maple, www.sarahmaple.com/paintings-3. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Signs

2358007 — 2024-11-24 21:06:04 UTC

What is it? Maple photographed her self separately 3 times and placed the images next to each other so the signs she is holding read: "I wish I had a penis because then I'd fuck you then steal your job". She uses tongue-in-cheek humor to challenge assumptions about religion and gender.

Connection to the course? Maple searches for a reaction by dressing herself in ways so that each outfit provokes a different crowd. As a Muslim artist, she tries to lean in to that part of her identity knowing people will send her death threats and call for censorship. Same goes for her feminine sexuality versus professional attire. She pushes all the boundaries and breaks down the walls between identity, religion and gender to express herself in her art and send a message, somewhat like David Wojnarowicz. Both artists are fighting for something greater than themselves through their art.

Fralin Museum of Art at The University of Virginia. "Sarah Maple Artist Talk." Youtube, Youtube, May 18 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI6suWLATi8&t=502s

“Paintings.” Sarah Maple, www.sarahmaple.com/paintings-3. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.