Set Apart This Dream, pt. 1

Looking through your gallery, I'd say this is one of your more powerful pieces. The pair of works really need to be shown together - I would consider the pair as one work.

I think what really emphasizes the work is this first part. The second part, alone, does say very clearly there is a severe human trafficking issue. But it is in this first part that we see just what the injustice is. We see the child stripped of her childhood. It reminds us that she is not simply a statistic. In this world we seem to be becoming desensitized to violence. We can look at the cuts and bruises and say "that -is- sad", but then move on. We see it every day. But the first part shows us what we're not used to seeing - we see a child robbed of her innocence - and we see what she is missing out on.

Part 2 is very effective - but I would say that the message "No More" is redundant, and maybe even a distraction. I think the girl's expression says "No More" better than anything than could be written in the space (they do say a picture is worth a thousand words). Without the text, one can only wonder what the girl will do with the shard of glass. The suspense adds a final twist that sends the message "this story is not over." In terms of bringing an issue to light - I feel that suspense is very effective in adding "this issue is not over," to the picture as well.

On the technical side, the drawing itself is very good. The chain (in pt 1) looks a bit like it is "floating". Otherwise, the work looks flawless.

In all - very powerful work.