Eyeing Medusa
encaustic paintings • videos • workshops • bio & artist statement
Amanta Scott: Eyeing Medusa at Orillia Museum of Art & History, 2023
“ OMAH has Amanta Scott’s really terrific exhibit of 36 portraits of notable women, Eyeing Medusa.”
I had a profoundly moving encounter with Bernini’s sculpture The Rape of Proserpina at The Borghese Gallery in Rome. This experience triggered me to explore how we see women depicted in art and how such depictions influence how we think about and treat women today. (See RESEARCH.) The video below details my experience and thoughts.
Conceiving Eyeing Medusa — in response to the ever-increasing rates of physical and sexual violence against women — rather than dwelling on victimization and suffering, I chose to celebrate women's strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and to parallel this with stories of ancient heroines.
As humans learn from and imitate what we see. If we only see devastating images of women, it follows that this becomes the norm. I aim to change this. We have an obligation to future generations.
I imagine myself in a gallery, accompanied by a little girl:
Confronted with centuries of artworks depicting women in every form of violation and abuse, she turns to me, eyes wide, brimming with tears:
“Is that what’s going to happen to me too, when I grow up?” she asks.
“No.” I reply, “Not if I have anything to do with it. That happened to me but I won’t let it happen to you.”
The Rape of Proserpina, Bernini, Borghese Gallery
Changing narratives, my work looks at women in a new light.
Celebrating outstanding women of all ages, cultures and walks of life, making a difference in the world today— EYEING MEDUSA encompasses: encaustic paintings, videos and workshops; with optional interactive sculpture installations.
Each painting’s title and story parallels a legendary heroine with a contemporary woman— one I see as drawing down the strength and resilience of a powerful archetype. By fusing the past with the present, I invite viewers to look at women in a new light, to illuminate and address urgent contemporary social issues.
I paint faces, recognizable yet abstracted, closeup so the viewer can look into their eyes without distractions and feel what remarkable people they are. In this way, I challenge traditional representations of women in art which normalize objectification and violence against women. Through dialogue, reflection and the power of art, I aim to inspire, provoke change, dismantle harmful narratives, and contribute to a more equitable society.
During exhibitions QR codes on art labels accompanying each of the paintings direct visitors to dedicated webpages with stories connecting the contemporary woman with the ancient heroine, illuminated with relevant historical masterpieces linking to galleries worldwide; and an array of community resources, help lines, references, and videos.
The project is named for Medusa, the archetypal wronged woman of Greek mythology. Torn from her spiritual path, raped, blamed, banished and ultimately beheaded— Medusa’s story echoes that of countless women throughout history. While her monstrous rage and debilitating grief petrifies all who look upon her, viewing Medusa is possible via mirror. Eyeing this ancient wild/wise woman requires facing our own fears, culpability and difficult questions— so we may recognize and stop perpetuating toxic beliefs and behaviours.
observations
Women have been depicted throughout history in a tremendous range of styles of painting, sculpture, music, theatre, literature and film. What most intrigues me is the quantity of works depicting women from a perspective that is fundamentally harmful to women. Women are portrayed endlessly as victims of rape and voyeurism, or as dishonourable, miserable or shrewish.
So few have explored the resilience, kindness, intelligence, strength and wit of women.
This is what we need to see today.
This is what Eyeing Medusa offers.
Portrait of Jane Goodall — pictured with Artist, Amanta Scott, in private collection, Toronto
In the RESEARCH section (top menu) you will find my observations on the links between the treatment of women today and depictions of women in art. The aim here is to cultivate conversation and awareness. Women have certainly been idealized and deified, but of late, largely they have been vilified, victimized and blamed. I have been examining this aspect in particular.
Accompanying Eyeing Medusa I offer workshops exploring the collections in art galleries and museums, examining how we currently see women, and what that makes us feel. For more information click the Workshops link below.
Eyeing Medusa has been made possible thanks to the generous support of a Mid-Career Artist Grant from the Ontario Arts Council.
