Machismo #5

2020

16 x 20 inches

Acrylic on Linen

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This piece is about manipulation. The scale on the table that allows the man to make his decisions is made up of the female reproductive system and the woman is feeding it to him. The eventual disappearance of the scale will limit his ability to weigh options and make objective decisions.

 

The woman doesn’t have enough of a voice to say what she wants, so instead, she manipulates her way through it. She views her manipulation as gaining power that elevates her above him. But if she really had power, she wouldn’t need to manipulate him in the first place.

 

In the background, you see a credenza filled with other tools she can use to get exactly what she wants. The curtains here are transparent because we’re seeing their relationship for what it truly is, not the one they put on display.