DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/Z9A0-0B47
Defense Date
2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts
Department
Sculpture + Extended Media
First Advisor
Michael Jones Mckean
Second Advisor
Kendall Buster
Third Advisor
Corin Hewitt
Abstract
Abstract
A Man At Point Zero is a collection of essays and stories that I wrote during the last year. These texts describe memories, conflicts and personal narratives about my relationship to art-making, my nationality, and sexual identity. Each of the texts focuses on a different point of time, and together they create a complicated pattern of conflicts that is the ground from which my sculpture practice grows. I chose not to include in this thesis any analysis of my own sculptures, but to present my writing as an independent practice. This choice has been made because each practice has a different tone. The texts are raw, personal, and very specific, while the sculptures are much more processed and abstract.
The title A Man at Point Zero that I use for both the thesis paper and the exhibition is a homage to the book Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi that is mentioned in my writings. “Point zero” is a point of no power. The book questions the ideas of choice and destiny for women under the patriarchal structures that are designed to fail them. Instead of a woman, I place a man — myself depicted at various chapters of life — to speak about masculinity that is not experienced from a position of power.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-11-2021
Included in
Art Education Commons, Art Practice Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Islamic Studies Commons, Islamic World and Near East History Commons, Language and Literacy Education Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Modern Literature Commons