1st place
gold star award
Daryna Barykina
united states 
title
Bruised Behind the Mask
In this series I explore one of the ubiquitous social issues – domestic violence.
When I first moved to the United States three years ago, in 2011 I was shocked by the scale and tragic social impact caused by this social problem. I was also impressed by the level of effort put into raising awareness and helping victims cope and overcome. Unfortunately, in my country these subjects are not spoken about, but are suppressed.
In this series domestic violence is shown as a facade behind which is the damage and devastation of abuse. My character is portrayed as a fragile porcelain doll concealing her bruises behind a mask of normalcy. Every morning she ‘glues’ herself together. Every evening there are more shattered pieces. This cycle repeats again and again, becoming more and more degrading with every incident. I was inspired to create my concept of domestic violence by a recent news story of the 212 pound NFL football star, Ray Rice who battered his 115 pound girlfriend and then dragged her limp body into the lobby. He received only a ‘slap on the wrist’ for this act of violence.
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entry description
As an artist I try to visually capture the essence of contemporary society. The themes I explore through my images are those that depict the often hidden but devastating effects of modern life. My goal is to create controversial images that provoke. Through the use of bold colors, photo manipulation, and retouching techniques, I translate my vision and build the vernacular between the artist and the viewers.In this series I explore one of the ubiquitous social issues – domestic violence.
When I first moved to the United States three years ago, in 2011 I was shocked by the scale and tragic social impact caused by this social problem. I was also impressed by the level of effort put into raising awareness and helping victims cope and overcome. Unfortunately, in my country these subjects are not spoken about, but are suppressed.
In this series domestic violence is shown as a facade behind which is the damage and devastation of abuse. My character is portrayed as a fragile porcelain doll concealing her bruises behind a mask of normalcy. Every morning she ‘glues’ herself together. Every evening there are more shattered pieces. This cycle repeats again and again, becoming more and more degrading with every incident. I was inspired to create my concept of domestic violence by a recent news story of the 212 pound NFL football star, Ray Rice who battered his 115 pound girlfriend and then dragged her limp body into the lobby. He received only a ‘slap on the wrist’ for this act of violence.
back to gallery
