Historically, fertility figures tended to exaggerate sexual features like the Venus of Willendorf. In this sculpture, I have depicted contemporary beach cultures' colorful fashion and feminine physique. The wheel-prosthetic is intended to challenge our current notion of beauty with its narrow definitions and exclusions of those with disabilities, and it is a nod toward the possibility of a cyborg future. The swimming flipper represents the various adaptations the natural world uses to procreate such as wings of a maple or dandelion seed. It also represents a male’s contribution to procreation.
The miniature mask is inspired by the Moon Mask of the Baule people from what is now called the Ivory Coast. From my reading, the traditional Moon Mask was worn during holidays, festivals, for important people, and during the funerals of women [Stepan, Peter. Spirits Speak: A Celebration of African Masks, Plate 20, Pg.161, 2005.] The dance was called MBLO. I chose this mask because of its association with the moon, which has a fertile influence on earth's life, ocean tides, agriculture, culture, women's menstrual cycles, and others.
