Lynne Russo
Throughout this new body of work, I was toggling between abstract, semi-abstract, and representational paintings, while using the dramatic sgraffito technique (also commonly known as mark-making) to ultimately make my mark for female self-expression in the modern era. And as I delved deeper into this mark-making --throughout the creation of these large-scale, daringly vibrant pieces—found that the line between the mark, and maker, seemed to blur. Armed only with paint, canvases and the full spectrum of human emotion from anger and sadness to joy, I was attempting to bring the viewer along with me on the journey to exorcise my demons, while injecting some humor along the way.
After a significant relationship came to an abrupt end, I began to process the enormous impact that humans can have on each other, and as I painted about my experience, an increasingly fascinating theme arose in the reactions of my male friends. Nearly in unison, they said that the paintings made me seem “crazy” or “scary.” What a beautifully-illustrated double standard this revealed – that a woman’s expression of anger in contrast to a man’s is perhaps threatening. It became clear to me that nothing is ever going to change unless women consistently push back against the stereotype that we must always be polite, be kind, be quick to forgive . . . or that it’s just easiest for us to take the blame. This work is an expression of the power that I took back.
For more information about the artist, please visit her website.