Angel Zhao-Sculpture-Clay (Super Sculpey)

Students Name: Angel Zhao

Title: untitled

Work type: Sculpture-Clay (Super Sculpey)

Category: 3D

Size: 12x12x8

In this 3D work Angel uses clay to express a metaphorical reality of the old societal expectations of women: to dress prettily, to be obedient, and to have no thoughts or personality. Many dark artists reject traditional beauty and norms, focusing on rawness and imperfection over perfection.

This dark art sculpture has themes of the macabre, surreal, and unsettling aspects of the human experience. Its purpose can evoke a deep emotional connection in the viewer, through symbolic imagery, psychological exploration, and traditional narratives in its characteristics. Focusing on a style and social commentary about our current lifestyles and traditional values, Angel goal is not simply to scare the viewer, but to create a thought-provoking experience within a dark aesthetic. Delving into a taboo subjects such as death, decay, trauma, and sorrow. This work is filled with emotional intensity designed to elicit strong feelings like fear, dread, sadness, or unease, inviting the viewer to engage in introspection and confront their own anxieties and a psychological reflection of the subconscious.

The themes of dark art have a long history, appearing in many cultures and art periods. Renaissance, macabre, romanticism and gothic art. The inspiration is rooted with a stronger Eastern influence combining folklore, animism, and religious beliefs, and it is known for emphasizing atmosphere, psychological fear.

（By Omar Gallegos）