epilogue. – Rebekah Fisk

Website: rebekahfisk.com
Email: rhfisk@uwaterloo.ca

Rebekah is an artist and designer pursuing a BA in Fine Arts and Business at the University of Waterloo, where she has been honing her skills in acrylic painting, illustration and digital art over the course of her degree. In her studio practice, she uses the intersection of art and design to tell stories, engage, and transform complex ideas into compelling visual communications. She explores topics involving identity and self primarily through reinterpreting her experiences and the places that surround her. Born and raised in Derbyshire, England, in 2012, she immigrated to the Kawarthas in Ontario with her family.

Artist Statement

One of the most persisting pieces of dietary advice over the last 200 years is the magical 1200 calorie diet. Without ever following a diet so restrictive this may not seem like such a concerning figure but in application this is a very restrictive way of eating. To this very day women are sold this and so many other extreme diets in the pursuit of the ‘perfect body’. As one of the many women who has experienced self-hatred towards my body because of the standards laid out for me, I have a deeply personal connection to this experience. While health and positive eating habits are important to our well-being, too often these values are taken to the extreme with sometimes deadly consequences.

This series focuses on the harm caused by commercialization of the ‘perfect body’ with a particular focus on diet products – detox teas, health foods, supplement & pills, etc. In the age of social media and the gen-z aesthetic these products are made to be beautiful, they are made viral with their quick fix claims all appealing to the desire for the ‘perfect look’. Because of this, I am creating a false diet tea company "Pinched" as a medium to highlight the absurdity of these products and the lifestyle they promote. Pinched offers a breakfast, lunch and dinner tea, perfect for you to consume the 1200 calories you “need”. While appealing to the aesthetic of 2022, upon closer inspection you will find these products are a satire of the real thing, bringing to light the harsh effects of intentionally malnourishing your body in pursuit of beauty.

Interview Questions

What aspects of your life inspire your art?

As I approach graduation I find myself hurtling towards a lot of huge changes to my life, and as moments of change can often prompt, I find myself re-exploring who I am and who I may become. Having been in this state of mind many times, I find that my artwork is very inspired by the evolving relationship I have with my identity, whether that be positive or negative at the time. As my self-perception is varied in subject I am inspired to explore a wide range of topics all with the common theme of identity at the core.

What are your preferred mediums and why are you drawn to them?

My background in art is in pencil drawing and acrylic painting, but as of the last few years my preferred mediums are digital painting and vector illustration, often applied in the form of graphic design. I am drawn to these digital media as they allow me much more flexibility and editing power than traditional media. I see myself as a visual designer in the future, be it in packaging, book covers, branding, websites, magazines: the lot. These digital mediums can play a large role in visual design work and exploring them over the years has definitely drawn me into this career path.  

What is the most significant thing you will take away from your Fine Arts studies?

Entering Fine Arts studies, I did not know exactly how I would transfer the skills I gained in my studies to a fulfilling career. Over the years I have taken many classes studying a range of media that I never thought I would, I have created work based on prompts I loved and hated, and have been challenged time and again to move out of my comfort zone. Through all of this, one of the most significant skills I have learned is how to communicate. A lot of art is made for other people to view and interpret, and oftentimes that art can carry a lot of meaning. Learning how to use visual means to communicate complex themes and messages is a unique skill and is so valuable to me in pursuing a career in design.