A full body portrait of cosplayer @zio_cos as Rei Ayanami (the First Child) from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
From the artist:
'Evangelion is one of my favourite Anime series which I collected back in the early 2000s. It gives me a thrill to find young people discovering it today on Netflix. However 'back in my day' I watched it on video cassette- in fact the textured background is made up of the stacked up VHS covers from my own collection. It is a series that progresses into a dark psychological melodrama and explores themes personal identity, the hubris of seeking perfection versus the flawed physical reality.
'For the model Zio who deals with a reality of chronic illness, and disability with endometriosis, the outward perfection of the costume belies the inner truth of feeling betrayed by one's own body...something I've tried to reflect in the blood red of the background including the NERV logo which arises like angel wings behind her.
'The character of Rei is often described in the series as the perfect doll, the First Child who ultimately seeks emancipation from her 'role'. She is born from a pool of LCL, a lake of blood like substance supposed to be the blood of Lilith from ancient Hebrew mythology. The LCL in the series also doubles as a breathable liquid that fills the cockpits of the Evangelion robots, immersing the pilots in a womb-like environment emphasising that connection to blood and birth.
'Finally the NERV logo includes the line from Robert Browning's poetic prose Pippa Passes: "God's in His Heaven, All's right with the World." It is a nod to the hubris of man and a certain naiveté to the reality of existence. The truth that comes to light at the end of the series is the humanity is flawed, but seeking perfection does not equal progression. Progress is achieved by seeking acceptance and understanding of the awkward and uncomfortable and making a place for everyone.'
This work is painted on a canvas surface that has been gessoed and sanded multiple times to render a smooth and regular substrate. The painting wraps the edges of the piece to create a complete object that is set in a floating black timber frame.