Shanae Maher

Perth Modern School

Year 11

Oil paints, modelling paste, acrylic paints, paper mâché, wood board, impasto

90 x 60 cm

I created this piece to show my anger and exhaustion, having to defend and justify my own and others’ identities and existence for so long. Across the world, people from all minorities are experiencing a roll back of their human rights. Now, it feels as though society just needs someone to hate; someone to blame all the world’s problems on. A common enemy. Believing in certain people’s existence has become a political statement.
The piece explores themes of resilience and strength in the face of hardships, prejudice and blind hatred. The style of this artwork is more expressionistic than my usual pieces, with the brushstrokes being looser and freer. This allowed me to convey my emotions more accurately; the imperfections feel very human.