Art: SCRUB A DUB DUB
You can always tell a lot about a person by their bathroom. It's the place of mood and image transformations, even with just a bit of mouth-wash if you're in a rush. It is where the magic happens, where you reunite with your body to cleanse yourself from mistakes, worries and post-workout sweats. It can also be a stressful ordeal especially if you react badly to your homemade kiwi and oatmeal face scrub 'that's all the rage right now'. For example, navigating a stranger's bathroom can be quite the experience especially if you've ran out of tampons, need a razor or have sensitive skin - we've all been there. One can't even begin to think what Rapunzel's shower drain would be like with all that hair.
I've recently gained a bath in my life and boy oh boy, was I ever-so grateful to have late-night cold dips during the heatwave we experienced here in The Netherlands. The only downside to this is now I'm trying to tackle my eco-anxiety of water wastage but that's my issue. Let's get on with today's blog post..
Art by Uzo Njoku - More from this artist
Uzo Njoku
This contemporary piece titled Catching the 8am train really does sum up 21st century living. It is also very telling of the year 2020 where for many, the average commute has been drastically shortened to walking to the kitchen. For some, this has been a god-send both mentally and financially. For others, they have lost that time in between home-life and work-life which created routine. Personally, I don't miss my morning commute especially after being off work for so long. However, with the prospect of job opportunities and interviews arising, I am definitely changing my focus on how I see and value the time I take on a commute.
Uzo is the sort of artist I'd love to just sit and listen to. Her levels of creativity and perspective are out of this world and are constantly evolving. Watch this lil video to feel her warmth and energy- this is what I'm talking about. Asides from painting, she also does illustrations and meme templates. Her versatility reminds us how hard it can be to be an artist in a rigid capitalist society whereby you have to explore all avenues in order to make a buck and get your name out there.
I feel for those who are having to make the decision on whether to commute on public transport at the moment. If that is you, I'm sending positive, germ-free vibes.
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Art by Danielle Orchard - More from this artist
Danielle Orchard
This Brooklyn-based artist depicts female figures in intimate spaces through line and colour. Much of her work takes place in the bathroom like this one, that one and also this. The use of sharp shapes, the mixture of light and shadow, and watercolours add to the moody yet tranquil feel her muses give off. I can't really explain it; the women all seem serene yet unimpressed, absent yet content, calm yet longing. Perhaps it's a comment on how women exist in the world, away from the male gaze, just living in their own time. I get a slight Picasso vibe from Danielle's work. Given the abundance of long-limbed ladies in the nude with wide eyes, you can see some resemblance to his painting Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907).
What I like about this painting is that you cannot possibly know what sort of day the muse has had. Does one detect stress from work (see: drinking wine out of a mug) or perhaps, the second cup is for her late lover (ugh blame train delays), explaining her patient gaze towards the door? With the UK potentially going back into lock-down as the days grow shorter and colder, I imagine for many, date nights in the tub may become a more recurring activity than before. If you don't have a bath, a fleece blanket and woolly socks should give off that same soothing self-care vibe needed.
Art by Madeleine Sava - More from this artist
Madeleine Sava
Hands up if you've cried in the shower or bath? There is something overly dramatic and similar to a noughties music video about it. Plus, it definitely makes you feel better afterwards... as you were.
A self-described illustrator and storyteller, this artist draws 'about what hurts'. Their work is a commentary on young women in their 20s navigating daily life, dating, emotional insecurities and bad decisions. Her topics border on cringe-worthy because they are so relatable such as the times we make it about ourselves (and are trying not to), feeling lonely and relationship drama. Style-wise, black lines on a white canvas with the occasional splash of colour, their work is raw, simplistic yet somewhat chaotic. The protagonist's wonky boobs and messy bun adds to clash between divine female energy and emotional immaturity. One of the best things about each piece the artist produces is that she provides a story/explanation of her own experiences. It's a bit like a journal coming to life through art, one that you're allowed to indulge in for once.
These two illustrations (this and that) are by far my favourites. They're absolutely hilarious yet also have so much truth behind them. It's about time we see more ladies feeling sexually liberating and flourishing down the path they've chosen without being hung up on a response from a f*ckboy.
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Hi, I'm Poppy
Feminism, creativity, exploring the world & having a good time are really important to me. If you liked the above, why not subscribe to my newsletter? This is just the beginning.