16328 - Elyssa Skyes Smith - Rage breaking bronze

The artwork, rendered in graphite on paper with accents of bronze, depicts a haunting and powerful scene of a headless human silhouette. The figure stands tall yet incomplete, its upper body dominated by the swirling chaos of a cyclone. The graphite strokes are dark and textured, giving the silhouette a raw, almost jagged appearance, while the bronze highlights glimmer subtly, accentuating key areas like the contours of the torso or the edges of the cyclone.

The cyclone is intricately detailed, its spiraling form rendered with dynamic, heavy graphite shading that transitions into lighter, wispy strokes near its outer edges. It emanates an overwhelming sense of motion and turmoil, as though it’s both forming and disintegrating at the same time. The interplay between the metallic bronze and the matte graphite creates an intense contrast, symbolizing the tension between destruction and resilience.

The figure's headless form amplifies the sense of detachment, with the cyclone replacing identity and thought, embodying raw rage, chaos, and uncontainable energy. The lower half of the silhouette is grounded with heavy shading, suggesting a strong connection to the earth despite the storm raging above.

The background is stark and minimal, allowing the focus to remain entirely on the figure. Smudges and faint graphite marks around the cyclone create a subtle aura of turbulence, as if the storm is expanding beyond the confines of the body. The piece evokes feelings of inner conflict, emotional upheaval, and the breaking point of human endurance, making it as emotionally charged as it is visually striking.