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Most of SFX airbrush artist Mab’s work involves in-your-face hypersexual depictions of ladies’s bodies. Butt cheeks become anime titties, Striplink-inspired lingerie, and skin-tight coochie cutters airbrushed onto naked skin are all common features in her portfolio. It’s work that’s so over-exaggeratedly sexual that it becomes satire, a way of ridiculing how women’s bodies are so often depicted as sexual objects. “The overarching message behind my work is a commentary on society’s perception of ladies’s bodies and their rights,” Mab states.
Born and raised in Connecticut, the 25-year-old first began her profession after being given an airbrush machine as a present. “Airbrushing was actually pushed on to me,” she tells Dazed. “Once I first used it I used to be so frustrated since it was hard to regulate, but I continued to learn the machine and was soon capable of dominate it and be on top of things.” Now, she combines traditional airbrushing techniques with mixed media (using make-up brands like Mehron Makeup), to color otherworldly animations that highlight just how absurd and surreal hypersexualisation might be.
“Airbrushing allows me to blur the boundaries between the tangible and the ethereal, the body and the material,” Mab explains. “By airbrushing clothing directly onto women’s bodies and bodies onto clothing, I metaphorically explore how women, especially women of color, navigate the load of societal expectations while remaining unapologetically themselves.” Here, she shares more about her work.
Are you able to tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up?
Mab: As a baby, I used to be often described as being very dramatic. I loved hosting my very own talent shows. I remember singing Alicia Keys songs with my play keyboard and mic hookup and playing dress up using my mom’s sarong as my evening gown.
What are you trying to speak through your work?
Mab: My art embodies the essence of my identity and experiences. It goals to challenge societal perceptions, while also celebrating sexiness, resilience, and strength. My work fuses traditional techniques with contemporary mediums, making a dynamic narrative that captures the multifaceted nature of Black womanhood.
What’s been your profession highlight to this point?
Mab: My profession highlight must be working with the Clermont Twins, they’re absolutely the baddest! Showing myself that I can creative direct alongside producing and painting two girls directly, in only six hours, definitely boosted my confidence in my profession.
What’s your earliest beauty-related memory?
Mab: My earliest beauty-related memory is entering into my mom‘s purse, finding her red Mac lipstick, and smudging throughout my face.
Describe your beauty aesthetic in three words.
Mab: Audacious, alluring, curvaceous.
Which fictional character do you most relate to?
Mab: I feel I’m relatable to Michiko from Michiko and Hatchin because I’m often the centre of attention. I’m hot and really competitive as a lady. Not only do I wish to get what I would like, but I’m super-adventurous. I’m often not scared to get what I would like.
Who’s your beauty icon?
Mab: Rihanna, her hair has at all times been such an enormous inspiration for me. Style-wise, I’ll must say Lil’ Kim. Swag-wise, I’ll must say Eve.
When do you are feeling most beautiful?
Mab: I feel most beautiful after I present myself the way in which I would like to be seen – for me, that’s with my nails done, hair done, all the things did.
Tomorrow you get up with one other face of your alternative. Whose is it and why?
Mab: My face but with Rihanna’s top lip and Teyana Taylor’s cheekbones.
You’ve opted to be cryogenically frozen in hopes of continuous the human race. While you’re awoken it’ll be your responsibility to kick-start the breeding. How will you wear your hair in your first date?
Mab: I’m bald – like, I don’t have time to be fearful about my hair. I must be ready to start out breeding, like breed me! Or I’m straight having a bonnet on and the massive mother-tied-up scarf. That’s what it’s giving.
You’ve had an accident that causes you to lose your sense of smell. The doctors can’t return it fully but can provide you with the power to smell one scent. What do you decide?
Mab: Easy: baby powder.