Madeleine Gill

York School

Junior

At the core of all of my art work is a feeling, often one very specific to me that may only be replicated once. Spending hours in a museum only to find one or two pieces I am completely enamored with is an unparalleled experience; typically, these pieces find relevance in the social or political realm, allowing me multiple dimensions of connection.

Working primarily in red chalk allows me to hone in on my composition and focus on a nuanced subject matter without accrediting too much to color. The unconventional angle serves to highlight the viewers’ perception of an individual holding a lit cigarette. Though the absence of a face leaves room up to interpretation, I see this hand as having many owners, ranging from Hollywood actresses to extended family members.

Impressionism meets pop art in this piece I titled, “Anti-Smoking Ad,” taking inspiration from the conflicting narratives on tobacco usage which emerged in the 1950’s. While doctors in white trench coats began to sound the alarm, propaganda - in the forms of art, film, etc. - continued to glorify the act of smoking a cigarette. And so, the American public was left behind in a grey area of uncertainty which continues today. Both glamour and health are finite, setting the stage for consumer wars to determine what American capitalism prioritizes.