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- Aoife Higgins
Aoife
Higgins
Internal and external Objectification
My practice is informed by the female experience. I focused on both the external and internal objectification of women and the societal expectations placed on their bodies.
I explored the idea of how women are often reduced to their reproductive systems and their fertility, viewed as vessels rather than individuals. I documented flowers decaying over time yet still holding their shape.
I then experimented using close-up and intimate self-portraits in personal settings to portray the invasive and uncomfortable nature of the male gaze. I drew on my own experiences as a woman by using myself as the subject to portray the idea of being watched.
Up close
My practice works primarily with painting and photography, focusing on my lived experience as a woman. I explore themes of objectification, vulnerability, and the societal expectations placed on women’s bodies.
I use self-portraiture to recreate moments where I feel exposed or where personal boundaries have been crossed. Through extreme close-up images, I place the viewer in an uncomfortable position, mirroring the invasive nature of this experience.
Lighting plays a significant role in my work. I use bright, harsh lighting as a spotlight to fully expose the face and body, reflecting the constant sense of judgement that can come with being a woman.
I also fragment my face and body into a series of images, highlighting how women are often reduced to separate parts rather than seen as whole individuals. This approach reflects the ways in which women’s bodies are dissected, objectified, and oversexualised.