Dawn Frasch

Field Resident, December 25, 2022 - February 5, 2023

Artist Statement

In my paintings, I create maximalist compositions that often include violence, sexuality, and humor. I use a psychological, irreverent approach to confront society’s expectations of gender and sexuality. My paintings take inspiration from the drama of renaissance art, and I reclaim catholic images and mythologies from a queer non-binary perspective. I make figurative narrative paintings loaded with dissected body parts, creatures, flowers, blobby textures, blood, ornamentation, skulls, food, and my dog. Being raised catholic I was impacted my images of torture that also had beautiful and sexual bodies. By reimagining art historical works, I show how I was personally impacted by these images as a child, and connect them to a broader experience. For instance, I reference this imagery to examine how the violence of trauma is stored in the body, and I paint contortions and lacerations of the flesh to capture the experience of body dysphoria as a non-binary person. My animation "Flesh Prison" explores these ideas further. In "Flesh Prison," and my other animations, I combine parts of my paintings alongside sculptures and sets to explore narrative through a more frantic sense of time than my paintings allow. The animation is in constant motion much like perception and memory are never static. The work can look violent or disturbing to some but it is very calming for me to create and look at these images. As a child, cartoons were a safe space for my queer imagination to grow. These cartoon worlds allowed me to see myself as a chipmunk or monster free from the limitations of my body. I use cartoon exaggeration, spectacle, and desire to challenge the patriarchy's abuse of power. I use deeply saturated colors, animals, and fantastical landscapes to contrast with the abject components of my work. My inspirations vary from medieval art to John Waters, underground comics, medical illustrations, and sesame street. As my practice evolves through the years there remains a constant exploration of the body. I have a passion for translating my curious way of looking at the world into to a visual experience.

DAWN’S PROJECT

My project will be a collection of new works centered on the theme of martyrs and revenge. I am reimagining old master paintings of saints and decapitation from a queer non-binary perspective. The first work sample is my My St. Agatha painting. She is often depicted with her breasts on a plate. This image is from a painting of her being held captive with pincers on her breasts right before they were violently removed. The second work sample is my St. Sebastian painting. My interpretation of St. Sebastian has top surgery scars and a phallic snake coming out of a vaginal wound at the groin. The erotic portrayals of St. Sebastian have given him long-standing popularity with gay men. My paintings of St. Sebastian and other saints will be various versions of a non-binary body. My painting questions expectations of gender and shows the struggle of body dysphoria. The rest of my saint series will be similar in size and appearance. They will be my interpretations of St. Michael, St. Lawrence, St. Ursula, and another St. Agatha post-breast removal. St. Agatha’s feast day is celebrated with cakes that look like breasts. St Lawrence is depicted roasting on a fire that looks like a barbecue. Food and the body as flesh is a recurring theme in this new series. The 5th work sample is a link to my animation ‘Flesh Prison’. I will also work on a shorter animation during this residency bringing paintings to life and incorporating the sculptures and sets into the 2D works. The 4th work sample is a picture of new work to show my new embroidery practice. The fabric is from my old femme clothes that I will combine into a tapestry. I am currently experimenting with adding fabric, beads, and other materials to my oil paintings.  I learned to sew from my mom and to paint from my dad with bob ross kits. These are my earliest examples of gender; combining these techniques will expand my depiction of gender. I have used sewing and embroidery in DIY fashion projects, but have never created textile work to be displayed. I’m interested in textiles in contemporary feminist art that challenges the history of craft being designated as a lower art form. Since I had my gender-confirming top surgery I’ve felt empowered to explore my feminine side. Embroidery is something I have been able to work on from my bed as I recover from surgery. Dissecting and combining different body parts from cisgender representations of masculinity and femininity has been a cathartic process. Wounds and animals replace genitals. This series started with many drawings and studies of St. Sebastian with top surgery scars. I wanted to make it my own idea of non-binary identity. Through this process, I got a clearer vision of my body dysphoria and desire for gender-confirming top surgery. I have started this series and I have a plan, but I am also leaving room for the process to grow and change as I heal. I have been photographing my healing process and using them as references in my work.  I believe this is the time for me to bring all of these elements together to show my struggles and triumphs as I explore my gender expression. This residency would be the perfect opportunity to expand my practice and experiment with new materials. My goal is to show that there isn’t a right or wrong way to be non-binary. Queer gender expression is expansive and limitless.

Artist Biography

Dawn Frasch is an interdisciplinary artist that works primarily with painting, animation, and video. Their work is an examination of how queer imagination can heal trauma and internalized homophobia. They have exhibited art internationally with solo exhibitions at Haas and Fischer Gallery in Zurich and Galleri Brandstrup in Oslo. They have shown in many notable group shows at galleries such as Leo Koenig Inc. Projekte, NYC, Ten Haaf Projects, Amsterdam, polad-hardouin, Paris. They have had a stop motion animation featured in their first museum show with Ridykeulous at CAM in St. Louis. They recently had a stop motion animation featured in their second museum show with Newhouse Experimental Films at MOMA PS1. Another vital part of their practice is teaching Early Ed animation in after-school. They also have been teaching early Ed animation at queer-friendly progressive schools for around 15 years. Working in with children in a tolerant inclusive environment brings joy and hope to their practice.