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Michael
Michael
@mdstamper.bsky.social
6 months ago
This portrait of a dark-skinned woman shown in profile against a violet background, created by high school senior Serine Kugler, won the People’s Choice Award at the ArtNow 2022 Brave New Worlds exhibition, a juried show highlighting youth voices across Silicon Valley. Kugler’s work was celebrated not only for its visual impact but also for its emotional depth. The woman’s eyes are closed, pinkish lips slightly parted, and her head tilts back in quiet serenity. A single light gold tear flows down her cheek, curving along her jawline and neck. Her hair streams upward like flowing grass, painted in vibrant green, interwoven with small yellow flowers, white dandelions, and delicate ferns. The background features faint, swirling, water-like patterns. The overall effect is one of beauty laced with emotion. The painting engages directly with the hidden struggles of mental health. At first glance, the subject radiates peace, yet the golden tear exposes an inner ache. The lush, upward-sweeping hair, transforming into invasive weeds and wildflowers, symbolizes how mental illness can quietly spread—often camouflaged by appearances of vitality. The plant imagery blurs the boundary between growth and intrusion, suggesting both resilience and fragility. Kugler said: “This piece is a take on the issue I want to see fixed in my brave new world, the issue of mental health. The woman in the painting looks peaceful, with the exception of the single golden tear falling down her cheek. This is the first sign that something is wrong, showing the physical emotions of her thoughts. Growing out of her head are invasive weeds, representing the disease that spreads through people with mental illnesses. It is camouflaged as harmless flowers, just like how mental illness is not easily detected, and often overlooked.” By combining beauty and vulnerability, Kugler’s “I’m ok” embodies the power of youth art to confront stigma and to call for empathy in the “brave new worlds” of tomorrow.

This portrait of a dark-skinned woman shown in profile against a violet background, created by high school senior Serine Kugler, won the People’s Choice Award at the ArtNow 2022 Brave New Worlds exhibition, a juried show highlighting youth voices across Silicon Valley. Kugler’s work was celebrated not only for its visual impact but also for its emotional depth. The woman’s eyes are closed, pinkish lips slightly parted, and her head tilts back in quiet serenity. A single light gold tear flows down her cheek, curving along her jawline and neck. Her hair streams upward like flowing grass, painted in vibrant green, interwoven with small yellow flowers, white dandelions, and delicate ferns. The background features faint, swirling, water-like patterns. The overall effect is one of beauty laced with emotion. The painting engages directly with the hidden struggles of mental health. At first glance, the subject radiates peace, yet the golden tear exposes an inner ache. The lush, upward-sweeping hair, transforming into invasive weeds and wildflowers, symbolizes how mental illness can quietly spread—often camouflaged by appearances of vitality. The plant imagery blurs the boundary between growth and intrusion, suggesting both resilience and fragility. Kugler said: “This piece is a take on the issue I want to see fixed in my brave new world, the issue of mental health. The woman in the painting looks peaceful, with the exception of the single golden tear falling down her cheek. This is the first sign that something is wrong, showing the physical emotions of her thoughts. Growing out of her head are invasive weeds, representing the disease that spreads through people with mental illnesses. It is camouflaged as harmless flowers, just like how mental illness is not easily detected, and often overlooked.” By combining beauty and vulnerability, Kugler’s “I’m ok” embodies the power of youth art to confront stigma and to call for empathy in the “brave new worlds” of tomorrow.

“I’m ok” by Serine Kugler (American) - Acrylic on Canvas / 2022 - New Museum Los Gatos (California) #WomenInArt #WomensArt #NUMU #ArtNow #art #artText #WomanArtist #LosGatosHighSchool #NewMuseumLosGatos #AcrylicArt #WomenArtists #artwork #BlueskyArt #SerineKugler #HighSchoolArt #MentalHealth

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