Orkideh Torabi
Region: Midwest
City / State: Chicago, IL
I make paintings that lampoon men as absurd clownlike figures,
drawing attention to the personal, political, and social issues
facing women in patriarchal societies. My process is to paint
on a silkscreen with fabric dye, then transfer the image onto
canvas using a squeegee, like a monoprint, relying on chance and
imperfections. By portraying the figures with cartoonish whimsy,
I try to strip the male oppressors of their power, undermining
the culture of machismo that pervades many societies. In
demasculinizing them, and through repetition and displacement,
I allow myself, as a female, to possess their power.