Being a single mom of three teens, sexuality is a common topic. After several years of a casual focus on plein air watercolors, I began exploring the topic of genitalia, gender, and sexuality. Just like Hokusai’s 36 views of Mount Fuji, I am also creating a series of 36 but my landscape is the human body, specifically the vagina. Throughout history, including today, men try to hold control over women’s bodies. While living in a current society where genitalia is often oversexualized yet also taboo, I want to take back the vagina. Just like women, the vagina is beautiful, delicate, strong, and sometimes it can even fail us. I am creating a series that focuses on lines, shapes, and colors, while exploring the different ways we see ourselves. I want this series to be empowering and hope to display the entire series at a local women’s shelter in the future.
Erica Davis-Hernandez