Dreams and Dissonance
"Meat" is an 8"x10" oil pastel on canvas that confronts the dehumanization of women with raw intensity. The piece depicts a blue-haired girl adorned with a cattle tag bearing the number 370, referencing a harrowing UNICEF statistic: over 370 million women and girls worldwide have experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18. Her neck is slit, and bright red beads cascade from the wound, a visceral symbol of violence and commodification. Through this haunting imagery, "Meat" challenges the objectification of women, likening it to being reduced to "meat"—a term that strips away humanity and individuality. The work underscores the devastating consequences of this dehumanization, forcing viewers to confront the societal norms that perpetuate harm against women.