Conjoined mermaids
I have a thing for mermaids.
This pair of conjoined twin mermaids started life as an illustration I created on a cardboard book page shaped like a fish tail. You can see their heads fit into the tip of the tail; the caudel fin. Anyway, I decorated eight of these die-cut pages and sent them into a collaborative book swap. I really liked making the mermaids and took a long time using texture paste on their tail and hair, then painting with Lumieres …
But the other members of the book swap group apparently gave my mermaids the thumbs down. And the moderator kicked me out of the group. She said my work had attracted “considerable negative feedback”.
Ouch. That hurt.
I cut the conjoined twins away from their page so I could turn them into a paper doll, and threw away the rest of my copy of the collaborative book because, frankly, it made me sad to look at it.
I gave the twins arms holding mirrors. People tend to regard the mermaid’s mirror as a symbol of her vanity. In fact, ancient mermaids did not have the association with vanity, or with luring sailors to their doom. The earliest mermaids were wise women and their mirrors symbolized the adage “know thyself”.
This doll represents two aspects of myself:
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The self that seeks respect from external sources
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the self that rises above the ego and creates without the need for positive feedback
Getting rejected by this group was painful, but I am grateful that it happened. It prompted me to think very deeply about ego and art. The conjoined mermaids may well be my favorite doll created for the challenge so far.
This post relates to Art Doll number 36, Conjoined Mermaids, May 08, by Stacey Apeitos.)
I think they are lovely! It’s very sad that you were kicked out because other people judged your work.
Thanks Andra, but in this instance I decided to apply the Nietzche philosophy, “That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.”
The world would be better off if each person, before acting, asked themselves, “Who am I to judge you?” I went through a very difficult time about a year ago, and was harshly judged for my actions, some of which I did regret. One woman, though, asked me the above question. She has become my mentor and I feel a strong connection with her - and I am healing.
I like the mermaids and don’t see anything for someone to take offense to. I wanted to provide you with positive afirmation for all your works. It is a shame others can be cruel.
oh my gosh! I really like these. I’m angry that some people would act really lame and be mean about them - and more, I DO NOT understand what the negativeness could possibly be! I think they are AWESOME.
“Baa, baa, baa! We don’t like it!” Oh, what’s that? The sound of conformist minds slamming shut? Yep. Pretty much. I love your mermaids. I like how the sister on the right looks into her sister’s mirror and the sister on the left is studiously avoiding looking in the lower mirror. It reminds me of days when I find myself ridiculously beautiful and lovely versus days when I can’t even bear to look at my reflection. What’s changed about my face in the meantime? Nothing at all. It’s all my own perception.
Im stunned! they are beautiful and I adore anything with mermaids/sea sirens. I was once truly gotten at by a moderator in a group who was very weird about my work [I think Jealous] and she threatened to “throw me out!” I went over her head and it never happened but I remember the shock at my end and it really distressed me. Best thing I did was walk away [virtually] and find places where I found inspiration and peace and sharing. Only a handful may have objected but the rest of the world will and do love it. Just took this beautiful art to the wrong place is all. smiles Michelle