ARTIST STATEMENT
The three pieces I am submitting have been chosen based on the theme of Slow Living. These acrylic and watercolor works depict the human figure in both passive poses and poses that demonstrate the eagerness for movement in a restricted space. The Doorway Dangling piece is an interpretation of Francesca Woodman’s untitled black/white photograph (1977/78). I chose to reimagine this work in color to create vibrancy in the peaceful yet somber emotion that is conveyed by the subject. Sofa Solitude is a self-portrait that reflects on the impacts of living alone during a quarantine. Rather than the body being the primary focus, I wanted to capture the blank, empty space around me. Finally, Fidget Quietly are two figures who are attempting stillness but cannot resist movement; these figures are attempting to let out the anxious energy by moving only their arms in order to be successful in stillness.
I value being still, balanced, and refreshed, and the shift toward less activity caused by the pandemic felt more like my natural habitat than our previous way of living. I believe that, generally, humans take on far more stress than is necessary and healthy, and recentering through calmness allows us to better prepare our minds and bodies for unavoidable stressors. I hope these pieces reflect the phases that we’ve gone through over the past year and that a bit of tranquility can be found by simply observing this art.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Nicole Di Fabio is a queer painter based in Washington, DC. Di Fabio holds an MA in anthropology and a graduate certificate in documentary filmmaking from The George Washington University.
Di Fabio had always envisioned merging her anthropological knowledge with visual arts. New to art, her most desired subjects to paint are women and their gender expression as well as foodscapes from lived experiences. Di Fabio works at a non-profit organization that focuses on science, education, and community and also volunteers as a program chair for the Reel Affirmations Film Festival that is curated for the queer community in DC.
© Nicole Di Fabio