44 Frame Factory Graduate Award
GAME GIRLS.
Game Girls is a project in response to the sexism seen in the video game industry. The portrayal of the feminine characters in video games is often hypersexual or helpless, diminishing their agency and reducing them down to characters that ‘need to be saved’. These ideas reinforce harmful stereotypes and continue to push a culture that marginalises women. Not only is there harmful representations of women, women also have to face a lot of harassment if they wish to be in this male-dominated space. This harassment issue highlights a broader social problem that is going on within the video game industry and community. I wish to highlight these injustices through my artwork.
When creating my artwork, I wanted to focus on creating a nostalgic feeling. I created my works to look like classic video games I enjoyed as a child. By creating my work to be bright, shiny, and bubbly I am able to evoke memories of a simpler time where video games were just about having fun. This contrasts the female characters in my work as they push on the glass realising they are stuck, looking longingly for escape.
While I specialise in print-making, I have recently been looking into different types of print such as digital prints and 3D prints. For this project, I decided that combining these methods of printmaking would translate well. 3D printing has changed the possibilities in the art world as this technology allows for the creation of unique sculptures that can be editioned just like a normal print. I feel that this new way of creation has expanded my artistic expression.
