DIS/prətty-f∆cə_05

Domenico Barra

Mixed Media - Acrylics, watercolours, inks, marker pens, highlighters, ink prints, duct tapes, tapes, mirror.

50 x 70 cm

Synthetic body. Real pain. [Our body is the temple of our dreams] This work is a vibrant and chaotic mixed media painting that delves into the contemporary obsession with beauty and the pursuit of physical perfection. Through a collage of AI-[glitched]-generated images, handwritten texts, and various artistic materials including acrylics, watercolour, inks, marker pens, highlighters, duct tape, the aesthetic of this piece is rooted in the messy and dynamic nature of urban walls, where layers upon layers of posters, graffiti, stickers, ads, experiences, emotions, and stories are constantly being added and erased. A critical take on extreme cosmetic and beauty culture. A world of excess, extravagance, and frustration, where the desire for perfection becomes an all-consuming obsession. The use of quotes from articles, documentaries, books, and cosmetic product advertisements highlights the pervasive influence of these cultural forces on our perception of beauty, of the human body, identity, and the struggle to feel comfortable in our own skin. By juxtaposing these elements, I invite viewers to question the societal pressures to conform to unrealistic beauty standards, and how far people are ready to go into physical pain to build their new body. The painting's raw and unfiltered expression challenges the notion of perfection as a static and unattainable ideal. Instead, it suggests that beauty is a complex and multifaceted concept that should not be confined to a narrow set of physical attributes, and branded canons. A powerful and thought-provoking artwork that encourages us to reflect on our own relationship with beauty and to embrace our individuality, a much rewarding achievement compared to the illusion of impossible anatomy. It is a reminder that true beauty lies in our uniqueness, not in our conformity to societal expectations. _ Ps: Plastic surgery is a medical practice that in many cases have healed people from painful memories and physical and identity struggle. This painting is a critical take on those cosmetic practices that are unethical, exploitative, unhealthy, socially and culturally dangerous. _ Where AI comes into place to enhance traditional art practices, I rəvərsə this process by enhancing AI images with more traditional art making.