The Growth of Cavity by Stella Wu

Students Name: Stella Wu

Title: The Growth of Cavity

Work type: sculpture with acrylic, resin, wire, foil paper

Category: Fine Art

Size: 5x9x20

The imagery of a tree to symbolize the negative growth driven by choices with our capitalist consumer culture. Specifically, the idea of eating sweats. and junk food, with roots hidden deep within and decaying our teeth. This disturbing images of things that are chewed up like gum, candy and other foods, serves as a reminder of how these habits silently shape our health, leaving a lasting yet often unseen impact in our bodies. Not to mention what we consume that often gets unnoticed or unchecked like micro -plastic or food dyes that are bad for us.

Stella Wu’s conceptual sculpture on tooth decay, moves beyond a simple 2D illustration to communicate the physical, psychological, and social impacts of the condition and our obsession to sugar. This artwork employs indulgence, metaphors and unexpected consequences of addictions to sweets. Materials were chosen to make the visual the process of decay tangible and alluring and evocative. Key concepts to represented in this art explore several themes related to tooth decay, which include pain and vulnerability, purity and preservation.

On a more critical level this art can also speak on the inequality of health care. It can be a critique on social and economic disparities leading to poor dental health effects for certain populations.