Chapter I presents my background as an artist born and raised in Romania, and describes my artwork in connection with my interests and experiences. Maps and traditional Romanian art are important sources of influence. The questions in the statement of problem deal with the way ideas, references to various elements, and installation impact the artwork. Chapter II discusses the installation at the Dallas Visual Art Center, the creative process, and how the artwork addressed the questions in the statement of problem. Important points are: a step into three-dimensionality with the tall, freestanding pieces painted on both sides, the use of topographical contours in creating shapes, issues of form and content as expressed in the painted surfaces, and the interaction of the individual works in the installation.

This problem in lieu of thesis concerns voyeurism and fetishism and how they relate to art. It addresses at voyeurism from both sides of the gaze. It describes a body of work that was created to explore the relationship between the voyeur and the fetish object and the viewer and the art object.

Brief Artist Statement by Matthew Johnson as part of a 2021 MFA Exhibition, entitled "Phantom Pain” in the Cora Stafford Gallery on the campus of the University of North Texas on April 1-6, 2021.

Work of art in reclaimed textbook, tape, gesso by artist Matthew Johnson as part of a 2021 MFA Exhibition, entitled "Phantom Pain." (Reclaimed surgeon textbook featuring diagrams that were appropriated into pieces in the show, as explained in the Project Report.)