HARD CANDY

“HARD CANDY

IS ART FOR THE FEMALE GAZE”

IMAGE: “Toxic Waif” by Hard Candy

©EMMA HEUN 2020

About the Collection

 

Hard Candy is the alias EMMA used to release a series of feminist mixed media pieces between 2019 and 2020.

The pieces are inspired by the fictitious imagery of women presented in ads, media, and fashion, particularly in the past 120 year.s The psychology of the male gaze has long been used to turn a profit with its objectifying and sexual representation of women.

The Hard Candy series uses vibrant neon and playful, stylized figures to draw viewers in to the (sometimes) disturbing details. Some sport cheeky slogans and pop culture references, a nod to some of the words commonly associated with women in the media.

The collection invites you to question the images marketed to us on the daily, and serves as a reminder that women are not for sale.

  • Colorful portrait of a woman with exaggerated features holding a lollipop, sporting bright eye makeup, large hoop earrings, and a tattoo on her shoulder that says 'Bite Me'.

    BITE ME

    Original Piece is Mixed Media on Strathmore 80 LB Recycled Paper, 6”x10”

    ©EMMA HEUN 2019

  • Colorful illustration of a woman with dark brown skin and large, curly purple hair decorated with small hearts and loops, holding a pink heart and wearing jewelry including a ring and a necklace with a pendant, with the name 'Chanela' and the year 2019 signed at the bottom.

    (CALLIOPE'S) COLD LITTLE HEART

    Original Piece is Mixed Media on Strathmore 80 LB Recycled Paper, 6”x10”

    ©EMMA HEUN 2019

  • A colorful artwork of a blue-skinned, androgynous figure with closed eyes, sitting on clouds. The figure has a luminous yellow halo and celestial body on their head, with space-like stars and galaxy patterns on their body and legs. The signature 'Hand Candys 2017' is visible at the bottom.

    CLOUD 9

    Original Piece is Mixed Media on Strathmore 80 LB Recycled Paper, 6”x10”

    ©EMMA HEUN 2019

  • Colorful illustration of a female figure with starry eyes, black lips, rainbow-colored melting face and neck, red devil horns, and outline stars behind her ears.

    DRAMA

    Original Piece is Mixed Media on Strathmore 184 LB Toned Mixed Media Paper, 9”X12”

    ©EMMA HEUN 2020

  • Colorful illustration of a woman with neon green hair, purple skin, and vivid makeup, surrounded by black ink splotches and drug-related symbols, with tattoos reading 'Poison' and a syringe, and the artist's signature 'ShayLandy 2020' at the bottom.

    POISON

    Original Piece is Mixed Media on Strathmore 184 LB Toned Mixed Media Paper, 9”X12”

    ©EMMA HEUN 2020

  • Artwork of a girl with blue bob haircut, melting makeup, and tattoos, with yellow dripping paint on her face and green dripping paint on her body, holding her hand to her face, signature 'Chad Candy' 2022 at the bottom left.

    TOXIC WAIF

    Original Piece is Mixed Media on Strathmore 184 LB Toned Mixed Media Paper, 9”X12”

    ©EMMA HEUN 2020

  • A surreal, colorful artwork depicting a girl with orange hair and eyes rolling back, surrounded by aliens, mushrooms, cookies, and eyeballs, with a flying saucer at the top and a purple and blue cosmic background.

    GLAZED OVER

    Original Piece is Mixed Media on Canson XL 98 LB Recycled Bristol Board, 9”x12”

    ©EMMA HEUN 2020

  • A colorful surreal painting of a girl with yellow hair and black eyes, holding a fork with a fried egg and a sunny-side-up egg over her eyes, against a pink and red background with abstract dashes. She is wearing a striped shirt and has red lips.

    SUNNY SIDE UP

    Original Piece is Mixed Media on Canson XL 98 LB Recycled Bristol Board, 9”x12”

    ©EMMA HEUN 2020

In total there are 10 completed Hard Candy pieces, 8 of which are available to be viewed by the public.

At this time Emma does not intend to create any additional pieces to add to the collection.