“Head in a Construction Site,” Hwaln Choi, 2023

The appearance standard that I think of is dark eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose, thick lips, a slim face, and fair skin. These days, the general public and celebrities are trying to meet the beauty standards by plasticizing their faces and photoshopping their photos. As a result, it seems that the standards were born. People become more confident and happy when they meet their beauty standards. However, it is not good for our mental health because the more we obsess over beauty standards, the lower our self-esteem can be. The “head” in this painting expresses “me” who constantly fixes herself to become more perfect, but is further broken due to excessive greed. I tried to express the rough atmosphere of the construction site where various materials are scattered by using charcoal. I want to convey through this drawing that if you don’t fit the beauty standards that the world says, then you should be the new standard.

HwaIn Choi is a freshman attending BC Collegiate in South Korea. Her art-making practices include experimenting with diverse materials to communicate a personal narrative to viewers. Having won the 8th Grade Constitution Day Poster Design Contest, she has broadened her artistic capabilities by exploring various mediums such as painting, drawing, and digital art. She wishes to continue pursuing her interests in visual arts in the future as she continues to investigate and express various social and personal issues through this creative outlet.