Monica Bonvicini

Monica Bonvicini began her „sprayed drawings“ series in 2005, using black spray paint to outline words spelled with metal chains on paper. These works often appear almost three-dimensional, with words floating in a cloud of color—sharp yet readable, sometimes mistaken for pencil drawings. The pitch-black depth and ghostly, hovering lettering juxtapose words like „Joy“ and „Fear“ with pharmaceuticals such as Zoloft and Prozac, critiquing the industrial medical complex in the U.S. during the late 2000s, particularly in response to the FDA's 2004 black box warning for SSRIs. By incorporating metal chains, Bonvicini highlights the intersections
between medicine, societal power dynamics, and the pursuit of happiness.