A portrait that is depicted from the rear isn’t immediately recognizable but here it symbolizes the female presence in the armed forces. The military creates gender roles through costuming each member as a symbol of there roles while in uniform.
Sgt. Donna Johnson was killed in action during her service in the US Army during Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan; October 1, 2012.
Maj. Gen. Jeannie Marie Leavitt is a United States Air Force general officer. She became the U.S. Air Force’s first female fighter pilot in 1993, and was the first woman to command a USAF combat fighter wing. Her portrait is depicted in acrylic and oil paint. I used the digital camouflage to describe the military’s contemporary fight in a digital age. Her hair is not her traditional braid and bangs but illustrates a woman in the wind and on the move.
The frontal position and outward stare of the Soldier in this self-portrait directly confronts and engages the viewer. The camouflage adorns her and continues to push and pull her to reflect the changing perception of gender roles in military culture.