“Un-Censorship: Suspended Between Concealment and Revelation”
2019 - Ongoing

In this MFA thesis portfolio, Leasure explores a topic that is simultaneously deeply personal and universal: the practice of self-censorship. Everyone has, at one point or another, concealed their true thoughts or feelings. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons to do this; however, if taken too far, this practice can become destructive, resulting in mental illness or suicidal thoughts or tendencies. In this series, Leasure depicts the human figure in emotionally evocative poses, partially obscured using shadow, silhouette, or even the figure’s own extremities (for example, hands or arms). Combined with highly saturated color and expressive contrast, this concealment implies that something critical is hidden from view. Through this visual dialogue, Leasure hopes to tackle the topic of self-censorship, shedding some light (both metaphorically and literally) on a shared human experience.