Medusa

Terra-cotta Woman

Inspired by my time in the Sahara Desert, my terra-cotta sculpture of the Medusa examines the relationship of mythology to the human figure by revealing an early construction of the woman. The royal blue coat she wears is a reference to the figure’s Berber origins, in North Africa, before the ancient Greeks, and later the Romans, transformed the Medusa into the monster that we know today. I focused on the story of Medusa because it echoes the modern-day issue of victim-blaming. When Medusa was raped by Perseus inside the temple of Athena, the blame fell on her for being “too beautiful.” Later, Perseus would slay her, and be lauded a hero.