Artist Statement

ARTIST STATEMENT 

Intersectionality has been introduced to think critically about different, complex forms of discrimination of marginalized individuals or groups. The artist, LakeLyn Bagge, critically analyzed the stigma behind mental illnesses and the way this group is often criticized for the many aspects in daily life that are affected by this illness. The work takes on forms intended to draw the viewer as the creator but also as the witness to create this cycle of push and pull of trading spots with the artist by also going back to the relationship of the individual and their feelings.  

Bagge’s intent for the piece, “April 14, 2017. II” , was to create a series of drawings relating to a specific entry in her personal journal. Bagge drew three different feelings expressed in an abstract portrait that was framed around this specific tragic event. The choice to reference a personal journal entry was to explain the idea of the subject of mental illnesses and how they are internal details of a person are expressed in external portraits.   

The design of the piece, “April 14, 2017. II”, had an intentional layout including the close up view of the portrait to show the detail of the piece. The intent of using sculptures allows the viewers to walk up close to the pieces and see the details within each sculpture. This is an important aspect in the sense of seeing the small attention to details in the pieces to represent the small issues that relate to the illness that ultimately make up the entire piece and the entire creator.  

“April 14, 2017. II” , is multilayered piece including sculpture and drawing. Bagge comes off to her peers as a happy, bright, confident person. The muted color sculptures the internal emotions of the artist in which darkness and death was felt during this time. The vibrant colors of the drawings shows what the external characteristics of the artist. This was to show the viewers the internal issues of mental illnesses which are also prominent on the outside.

Three pedestals sit in front of the drawing. The three sculptures that are in reference to the drawings sit upon the pedestals. Three large scaled drawing are hung behind the sculptures at a higher measurement to create a visual movement from the sculptures, up to the drawings, then back down to the sculptures. This allows the viewers to interact visually to create the understanding of the experience of an intimate moment between the viewer and the artist. It allows the viewer to engage in the feelings the artist experienced during a specific time. 

Artist Bio: 

LakeLyn Bagge was born in Valencia, California. She is currently attending Chapman University in Orange, California working to get her BFA in Studio Arts and a minor in Graphic Design. Her work as an artist is influenced by the struggle of being diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. She has exhibited work in the Guggenheim Gallery at Chapman University. She is involved in many organizations that work around children and to end the stigma of mental illnesses.