Selfie-based art depicts constraints on women

Diana Nicholette Jeon takes lots of selfies.

The artist photographs herself with her iPhone and handmade lens combinations. Using her iPad, she combines multiple pictures; finishes the pieces by hand with charcoal, pastels or pencil; and mounts the finished work on wood panels.

“Altering things in Photoshop became my thing,” she said. “And then I build something using layers so it’s uniquely mine. … I create a new face with the added layers.”

Many of her works depict the societal constraints on women.

“There’s so many things on how women should be,” she said. “The fashion magazines tell us how we should be. There’s things that tell us how to be a good wife. It’s hard to fill these roles and do well.”

One piece, “Dress Appropriately for the Game Girl,” has a woman who finds her own style and doesn’t “dress appropriately.” She’s wearing a T-shirt with a backwards slogan that says “Better Than Vogue,” and a hat with antlers. “It’s about making our own fashion statement,” Jeon said.

Yellow Girl, with a contorted face, shows a girl that’s “scared because she can’t measure up to standards.” Jeon used yellow since that color is associated with being chicken, she explained.

“I remember when women couldn’t wear pants or get a credit card,” Jeon said. “We are once again seeing this backward progress with the current administration.”

Many of the pieces have women who are wearing antlers or have an arm replaced with a branch. “They accept their own flaws and don’t accept limitations.”