Maria Fontes Arraes

Le Cerf

I want to use my art to express forms and space. My main inspiration is scoliosis, a disease that I have suffered since I was born. Scoliosis started to bother me at a young age, but when I realized that I could use it as a way to express myself, because it is a part of me, I understood that I shouldn't be ashamed of it. Scoliosis is not something bad, but something different, this makes you unique. The different forms of my back, inspired me to create artworks focused on structures, giving an illusion of strength, steadfastness and anatomy.

For my exhibition, I decided to work in media such as photography, drawing, acrylic painting and sculpture. I used these different media because I wanted to explore different themes found within

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IB ART EXHIBITION | 2020 - 2021

structures such as in the human body and also in architecture. Architecture is important to me as I see it as a way I can move forward with my life and fulfil my ambitions. I hope that these facets can successfully combine to move my artwork forward.

There is a relationship between the media I use and the ideas I work with. The structure within my back, the different shapes, angles and forms found in my spine combined with architectural shapes and features. All these have inspired me to create the structures that you see in the work exhibited before you.

I want the audience to experience observation by focusing on the details of the artworks and to notice little things that can make a big difference. To contribute to the viewers experience, I have created a method to display my work because I believe that how the work is arranged and presented, can have a big impact on the overall audience experience. My first pieces are personal artworks and photographs which have an important meaning to me because it is about my own life and experience. These initial works are rendered in a dark and muted colour pallet, reminiscent of the high contrast found in the black and white X-Rays taken of my spine, and my early negative feelings towards my body. However, as the viewer travels through the exhibition, I attempt to explore a different range of bright and vibrant colours which signify my greater confidence and acceptance towards myself. I want to portray a greater positivity in how people perceive themselves. I am very positive about my future and I want the viewer to also feel that they too can overcome difficulties and achieve their dreams.

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