The Slap is a single-channel looping animated painting comprised of 168 individually-painted frames, originally shown at DiPietro Todd in Mill Valley, California in 2017. The piece explores the ways in which common metaphors and tropes of femininity may be employed as weapons. In this case, a bouquet of blooms initially acts as stand-in for beauty, sensitivity, fecundity, fragility—but these codes are called into question via the bouquet’s aggressive, violent action. The relationship between subject and symbol is complex and may be many things at once: antagonistic, seductive, shocking, synergistic, abusive, tender.
The Slap, 2017
Single-channel looping animated short film, 22 sec
168 original hand-painted frames: watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
The Slap: Series 1 (Frames 001-012), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 2 (Frames 013-024), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Frame 38 (Series 4), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 3 (Frames 025-036), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 4 (Frames 037-048), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Frame 56 (Series 5), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 5 (Frames 049-060), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 6 (Frames 061-072), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Frame 83 (Series 7), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 7 (Frames 073-084), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 8 (Frames 085-096), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Frame 97 (Series 9), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 9 (Frames 097-108), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 10 (Frames 109-120), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Frame 144 (Series 12), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 11 (Frames 121-132), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 12 (Frames 133-144), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Frame 153 (Series 13), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 13 (Frames 145-156), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches
The Slap: Series 14 (Frames 157-168), 2017
Watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper
Each frame — 5.75 x 10.25 inches