The Mirror

by Molly Adams

“In the stillness of the Louisiana wilderness, under the cloak of night, I photograph myself nude, entangled with nature. Using these photos as references, I explore self-portraiture with oil paint on large-scale canvases. As a woman shaped by the expectations placed upon the female body, my paintings are not a quest for superficial beauty, but rather a stark exploration of self. I deviate from my photo references, constructing imaginary, somewhat surreal landscapes that blur the boundaries between internal and external experience. My works encapsulate the viewer, forcing a confrontation between nature, autonomy, and identity. I reclaim the female form as a site of vulnerability but also power. Informed by ecofeminist thought, I explore the parallel exploitation of women and nature. My nudity is not an invitation but rather a declaration—an assertion of existence beyond societal expectations.”