Megan Jenal

Artist Statement

As a feminist artist, my work is deeply informed by my experience as a woman as well as those in my community. Reclaiming my autonomy is central to my work. During my studies, I have researched the lengths that the patriarchy has gone to pursue the disenfranchisement of women. This system is ever-present today, making it time for women to stage a complete cultural reclamation of their bodies and aspirations.
The systemic patriarchy has led to the shame and destruction of too many women, who for thousands of years have lost their agency. The female body has been defined as sensual and sexy, and shameful. Aggressions have led to too many feeling traumatized. As a result of this trauma, women experience their bodies as shells and not directly lived-in.
My life-size plaster casts depict the female body in distress, where the feeling of agency and identity is revoked. Inspired by the lifeless casts displayed at the ruins of Pompeii, Italy, these casts are moments of harm and show the affliction of pain. Those people have been reduced to nothing but their exterior, only known for their most traumatic moments. As a victim of abuse, at times, you can feel like you, too, are only seen for your trauma.
My work addresses these power inequities by embracing the characteristics that make you a woman. My work continues the efforts of feminist artists before me to disrupt the male-dominated narratives of art history. Influenced by women such as Theresa Burga, Jenny Saville, Judy Chicago, Allison Croney Moses, and The Guerrilla Girls, I draw upon their messages of defiance through the female figure and systematic sexism.