aLiCe: aRt iS tHe jOuRnEy oF a FrEE sOuL | Sound of Pen

Alice is an amaaaaaazing digital artist. Her A-Level study of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ inspired these incredible pictures – we are IN AWE. The pictures are interspersed with Alice’s own inspiring ideas about art, interpretation and chaos!

“𝒜𝓇𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒿𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓃𝑒𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝒶 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓁”

I admit I was a bit hesitant upon revitalizing my digital art skills. Many years have passed since I’ve touched upon this sublime medium of art. I decided that I wanted to do something for the Handmaid’s Tale to celebrate our completion of such an imposingly profound novel. But, I didn’t even know where to start.

While searching for ideas, however, I realized how there are very few artworks on the Handmaid’s Tale despite it being an illustrious and a provokingly speculative novel. Of the ones I found, they are quite basic. Don’t get me wrong, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” as some bloke out there said. Still, I couldn’t stand how such an intricate and sophisticated novel deserves such minimalism.

So, I decided to experiment.

I can be extravagant in my art and writing. And here, my anxiety looms…

What if my art doesn’t capture the atmosphere of the novel perfectly?

What if I don’t do the novel justice and end up creating an abomination and have it at my own words like Serena Joy?

Wait.

Does it need to be perfect? Do I need to steel myself to such expectations?

This is MY work. MY interpretation of the novel.

And here I am, breaking the insecure GCSE me who let such judgements inhibit her freedom.

Now, I let my creativity flourish.

Run wild. Create chaos. Create beautiful chaos.

Writing blogs and music reviews aren’t really my thing. Nor am I good as expressing my opinions with clarity. But with art, I can be as chaotic as I desire.

I’m not a professional. I’m not perfect. But here are the pieces I’ve created as an avid reader. They include my personal key quotes for the Handmaid’s Tale as well.

At the end of the day, these pieces are my unique exhibition. My appreciation for this wonderfully haunting novel.

“We are one in a million.”

Gender artwork

How strange, I never thought I would create an artwork inspired by an essay. Well, here I can confirm that I crafted this based on my Handmaid’s Tale essay on gender. My analysis on the symbolisms and metaphors of “plant genital organs” littered the essay. So why not bring it to life visually?

Oh, but my inspiration doesn’t just come from an essay. Have you heard of Death Note?

It’s a manga (japanese comic) masterpiece. Death Note is a battle between two geniuses, unknown to one another, when one of them is given the power of God to bring justice to the world, or punishment. It’s like a cat and mouse game but with death and the world on their hands. It’s thrilling!

The abuse of religion is also a central theme to the manga which is analogous to the Handmaid’s Tale. The artist for this manga is talented beyond words! I’m fuelled with inspiration!

An artwork based on a gender essay and a Japanese comic synthesized together…What’s next?

Aunt Lydia artwork

“She’s a flag on a hilltop…we too can be saved”

What a powerful metaphor. Yet, I missed it out. I only revisited this quote through our Get-Going task, haha. This quote beautifully embodies Aunt Lydia. Gilead’s nature is run on religious fundamentalism and patriarchy. But, isn’t Aunt Lydia the pivotal enforcer of this whole system? Arguably, It isn’t the men, but the Aunts who’re keeping Gilead’s blood flowing.

Right, I admit this artwork is inspired by a Hitler poster called “Es lebe Deutschland!”. Oh my odd sources of inspiration.

Does it not fit the quote well though?

Freedom artwork

Freedom is a key theme to this novel. It’s also an easy one to creatively mould and construct art for. I also played around with the font with this one the most. The raven outside the cage reflects how animals have more freedom than the Handmaids. It could also be an emblem of Gilead with the eye hanging on its beak showing the oblivion and censorship people are drowning in. Of course more interpretations are welcome 🙂

I also feel like the theme freedom has the most interesting quotes. I mean just look at these quotes! How provoking and equivocal.