ARTIST STATEMENT
I have created a number of pieces, all making commentary on the resemblance and application between a tampon and a bullet. This body of work is titled, ‘The Tampon Complex’.
Complex is defined as “Noun: A system of interrelated, emotion-charged ideas, feelings, memories, and impulses that is usually repressed and that gives rise to abnormal or pathological behavior. / A fixed idea; an obsessive notion.” (Dictionary.com).
The Tampon Complex houses cyanotypes that have been exposed in the hot August and September sun, bathed, dried, pressed, and embellished using techniques and materials of paper weaving, typography, posca pens, loose glitter, beads, embroidery thread, lace, dyed tampons and string, and acrylic ink splattered on top, set upon found crochet table runners and blankets. Continuing in the Printmaking realm, there are so a select few of photo lithographs presented, based off of some of my cyanotypes, focusing on controlling the scale of them, presenting them larger.
The collections’ purpose is to display elegance, memorial, pain, fear, overcoming the elements that harm you, and thinking about the purpose of their presence. To beautify and ornament scenes that may be perceived as grotesque is not meant to cover up the acts and topics referenced, but to demand your attention. These pieces are precious, as are our bodies, and what we let penetrate us.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Katrina Shafor (she/her) is an artist, art educator, and activist residing around Cincinnati, OH. Katrina focuses her artwork in the printmaking realm, focusing directly on cyanotype, a photographic printmaking process.
The cyanotype is the base, and then gets transformed through embellishments such as typography, ink, beads, glitter, weaving, embroidery, and found fibers.
Katrina’s themes go into empowerment, realization, sensation, and fragility, speaking on topics of human rights, political activism, personal sensitive acts, and acceptance of the femme queer lifestyle.
When she works, she centers these thoughts into a complex. Complex is defined as “Noun: A system of interrelated, emotion-charged ideas, feelings, memories, and impulses that is usually repressed and that gives rise to abnormal or pathological behavior. / A fixed idea; an obsessive notion.” (Dictionary.com).
© Katrina Shafor