Host
Madison Muszynski
Area: Painting
Madison Muszynski
Thesis Statement
With my current work, I wanted to expand upon characters I had created in past works and put them into more thought-provoking or narrative settings. With the physical aid of sewn dolls of my figures, I wanted to display them in unsettling yet almost comedic interactions. The characters that stemmed from nightmares and personal fears or insecurities were placed into a not-so-comfortable situation, like something dramatic or discerning happening at a party that makes everyone hold their breath. However, I hope for some silliness to shine through in the work, for talk of such big and scary beings or themes can't possibly hold as much power in the forms of stuffed dolls; this in it of itself was also a personal goal in the works, to display things that had once upset or unnerved me in a way that makes them smaller, more digestible, and helps me to explore them and their themes and meanings in a less intimidating manner.
The two paintings I have created were meant to be in a sort of conversation with one another, reflecting different viewpoints of the same setting. In the first we look into a gathering taking place with concerning figures, and in the second we take the place of the party-goers, looking out at a person reaching towards them. Through my process, I wanted to convey the self-awareness I have of these symbolic, make-believe characters, but also acknowledge the reality they hold and the influence they still have.