GIRL PAIN, 2023

As a philosopher of girl culture, I appointed these objects and imagery to stand as the icons of the moment including timestamps of the moment,like in season shoes, and girls with tattoos.  During my time as a tattooist I imagined myself as an archaeologist exploring the subculture of Knew York’s young women as I’ve tattooed them.

While tattooing hundreds of women over the last seven years I discovered their magic power of taking ordinary items and making an idol of them. These women adorn themselves with iconography of their personas, and sew pieces of their souls into items through sentimentality and the symbolism that it aligns them with a certain kind of woman– the kind of women they want to be and the kind of women we want to study.

 In contemplation of my findings, I explore media I’m very comfortable with such as a line of ink, an unforgiving vibrating machine, and a sewn stitch. Further then exploring the familiar in a new way like filling a space of familiar imagery rather than pulling a line. 

I offer these pieces to be kept in the home with you; to pour bits of your soul and pain into; meditate in front of; to look upon and see yourself–literally or figuratively. A crushed can from a great night as a holy relic. This art is meant to live with you and fall out of fashion in the name of enjoying the moment as well taking more careful consideration in fast fashion and consumerism.

Look into our hall of artifacts and see glorified garbage, something all Girls Knew York know well.