If One Could Speak – Monoprint

This is a monotype print, meaning it is the only one and cannot be duplicated, making it an original piece of art - like a painting.  In fact the technique used is actually a form of painting - in this case painting ink on a printing plate to create an image.  The screen and net covering the mouth and above the eye were placed on the plate on top of the inked image and the whole piece run through a large press to create the final work.

This is part of a series I did exploring the issue of women's place and power in contemporary cultures.  It's not being able to speak physically that is the problem, obviously, but of what is said being valued equally to what is said by men.  To be heard.  To have the courage to speak in an environment where speaking will probably result at the very least, in being ignored, and where often it results in physical and/or mental abuse.  Still, today, despite #MeToo, despite unprecedented advances in communication media and technology that offers robots, cloning and AI.