The Moon 2020

Zoe Hawk painted "The Moon" in the 21st century. The figure in this painting, rendered with a flat and surreal tone, evokes feelings of nostalgia. The girl's costume suggests a performance, perhaps even a distortion of girlhood and innocence. Her dress, reminiscent of 1950s fashion, juxtaposes mid-century ideals of domesticity with the complexities of contemporary identity. The dreamlike background, punctuated with celestial motifs, contrasts with the girl's solemn gaze, opening a dialogue about the burdens placed on young women. Hawk’s works often present young women in various social dynamics, exploring themes of vulnerability, expectation, and the search for self. The artist once said that she is interested in "the tension between the familiar and the strange." This painting invites us to consider the nuanced experiences of growing up, the weight of societal expectations, and the quiet strength found in the journey of becoming.