By Maxime Goldstyn
ARTIST STATEMENT: I felt particularly addressed by the theme explored in this issue. A woman’s bodily autonomy remains a contentious issue on which people who identify with the female gender should have a voice, and their voice should be considered before anyone else’s. Since the removal of abortion rights in the United States, I have become more aware of how fortunate I am to have access to health care that allows women to make decisions about their own bodies. However, the fact that the right to bodily autonomy is still seen as a fortune proves that we have a long way to go before we have full gender equality. For me, feminism is a value, and this value is unfortunately not yet acquired by the majority. Despite the regressions so well illustrated by the case of Roe v. Wade, I continue to have hope in an egalitarian world.
I am sharing with you this painting that I completed during the pandemic. Its dark tones and gloomy imagery indicate a pervasive pessimism. This issue’s theme immediately reminded me of this painting. Looking at it several months after its completion, the beam of light in the background evokes more optimism and hope than when I first interpreted it.
2020
Oil on canvas
32×48 inches
Maxime Goldstyn is a multidisciplinary artist based in Montreal, Québec, Canada. Her practice mainly involves painting and sculptural installations.