Meet Trina Merry, with over 12 thousand Instagram followers, the New York based artist is highlighting the problems within femininity and gender equality at a time when President Trump has made so many Americans feel invisible. Trina’s latest series in New York aims to face these issues head on, using bodypainting to create a simple yet powerful statement that contrasts landscapes of power with human reality.
Right outside Trump Tower itself, Trina’s boldest project in the series featured two nude, female models as she once again created new images in the framework of something much greater, this time exploring femininity within the context of Trump Tower and everything it stands for.
Captivating and discreetly bold, Trina’s artwork blends in to stand out.
Camouflaging her two models using Trump Tower as their backdrop, Trina’s Fifth Avenue piece was a reaction to the meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. What started as artwork showcasing gender equality through the top free act and questions surrounding women’s rights, transformed into something much greater and posed the question to Trump - Are Americans invisible to you?
Each of Trina’s female models stood nude and proud as she covered the front of their bodies in red paint - a deliberate nod to Trump’s Republican stance. Their chests read the hashtag #AreWeInvisible, highlighting so many unanswered questions about women, Americans as a whole and democracy. On their backs, Trina replicated the physical view of Trump Tower, as her models gradually became camouflaged within the setting and their bodies became part of the structure. In light of Trump’s troublesome past with the female body, Trina’s body painting showed two striking messages - the invisibility of felt by many and the demand for answers.
“A lot of people came up and took pictures of what we were doing and really wanted to engage with us on social media”
One thing’s for sure, Trina’s message and her models were not invisible that afternoon. Her amazing artwork caught the attention of passersby and sparked conversations about her intervention. This reaction continued on social media where people discussed their opinions about Trump and Putin.
Trina believes that while she has the ability to express herself, it’s important to not stand down and take action over what’s currently happening in America. The unconventional medium of her artwork places emphasis on the problematic and often overlooked issues surrounding not just gender, but power, control and the right to have a voice in America. In her series, women are opposing landmarks of power around New York City, juxtaposing the hard lines of the architecture and what these buildings represent, with the soft curves of the female body and the interesting dialogue these buildings create for us.
You can keep up to date with Trina’s latest projects by following her on Instagram @trinamerryart where you can get involved in the conversation and see more of her masterful bodypainting around the world.