OLIVIA MADAY
Video Artist
BARTENDER BITCH
2022
1:11 MINUTE CYCLE
VIDEO PROJECTION
Bartender Bitch showcases the work of a bartender mixing cocktails within a high-intensity environment. The foreboding build of audio and quick-cuts invite viewers into the escalating atmosphere of the narrative.
The growing tension depicted in the artwork reflects the mounting weight women carry as they navigate societal demands to present themselves as objects of desire, and to cater to the needs of others, often at the expense of their own well-being. Yet, within this narrative, a pivotal moment emerges. The woman depicted in the artwork, both literally and symbolically, "puts her foot down," asserting her autonomy and seizing control of her own story. This transformative act represents a moment of reclaiming agency and finding empowerment within a world that often denies it to her.
