Youth Becoming, acrylic paint, beads, glue, and 20 gauge wire,
Dagny Brej
Monterey High School | Senior
Hello, I am Dagny Brej. I am a 17-year old artist from Monterey, and I mainly work with digital art. As an artist, I hope to invoke feelings in others that they never thought they would see recognized in a format visible to the eyes. This piece is inspired by the emotions of senior year, watching as my fleeting childhood fades. In a way, this piece is a representation of the transformative aspects of 2020, and all of the self growth it brought. The name “Youth Becoming” is a true reflection of the lens by which I have observed the last few years before adulthood. It is a celebration of what I have accomplished, and what is yet to be.
When I first saw the wooden panel, I instantly knew the direction I wanted to go with it. Flipping the panel to the hollow side so that I could build outwards was exciting to me, a unique spin that was rather fitting for such a unique year of my life. I used acrylic paint, beads, glue, and 20 gauge wire to design this piece, each of the elements being combined while simultaneously standing alone. I explored more graphic line work, venturing out from my digital comfort zone.
The fluidity of the wire in this piece is a nod to the fluidity of life itself. The sun is the giver of life, the thing that we rotate around, constantly. The patterns are representative of daily rhythms, and the eye beads represent the way society watches us come to be a part of it. Finally, the citrus and leaves show growth, pain and adventures. I love creating art and being immersed in the work of others because it gives me an opportunity to experience emotion in a visual way.