Golden Ratio

 Representative Images/Video:

Artist Statement:

Isha Bhandaru

Golden Ratio

Performance with rice, bathroom scale, measuring tape

Friday, November 13, 2020

[Ritual Assignment]

The concept of the piece is about body image and how the world has become obsessed with numbers. I weigh myself on a scale, write it down, create a bag of rice proportional to my weight, and hang it on myself, then repeat. This repetition demonstrates how society has a ritualistic obsession with matching unattainable beauty standards which are created with numbers. The rice represents people commenting and putting burdens on each other in terms of body image and how people are over conscious about calories, and measurements. The further along you go down the path of self-hatred the heavier you and your burden become. I tie the bags around myself to demonstrate how people are trapped in this cycle. The dress I am wearing was supposed to be my 16th birthday dress, but I decided to not wear it as it did not fit me in the chest. This relates to how girls are forced to fit a ratio for their bust, waist, and hips in order to wear what they want and look 'normal'. The piece is intended to start a conversation on body image and why our society is so obsessed with pinning standards on others.

Process:

The piece went through many transformations as time went on. I just tried every idea which came to mind and changed the ritual as things worked or did not work out. At first, I was sitting at a table measuring myself and writing it down on a notepad. But after discussing with the class, we decided I needed to make more use of the space. I decided to build my own 'room' so others can get a feel for how I am in a different reality. I had some problems incorporating rice as I felt the symbolism of it as a burden was really powerful, but it was not easy to understand. After many ideas and brainstorming, I came up with tying the bags of rice onto myself to symbolize the weight and burden I am carrying.