Today I visited the Skarstedt Gallery in London to view some of Barbara Kruger's early works. Since these were a collection of her early works there is a more broad political focus rather than majorly feminist pieces. Therefore only a few directly link to my theme.
The two pieces that stood out to me were the 'We are your circumstantial evidence' piece and the 'Business as usual' piece. The first interested me because unlike all the other pieces the background image was not a single photo; this piece is a collage of a woman's face. At 231.6 x 155.6cm the piece is an intimidating size which helps to create an impact. The large sizes of the pieces contrasts with the seemingly simplistic nature of the pieces, in a way that the dichotomy between these elements helps create a bigger impact. The few, simple words carry more weight.
Also I like how Kruger includes the frame in her pieces. The red frames bring a dash of colour to the pieces and the use of the colour red has connotations of danger and importance.
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
Awe-inspiring is the only way to describe this exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Showcasing work from the entirety of McQueen's career, the exhibit provides an intimate insight into his work.
By seeing this exhibit I have realised that McQueen's work links much more closely to my project than I realised. Many of his garments combine the female form with animal elements; feathers, furs and horns. This relates to my recent exploration into the feral nature of femininity, it is a portrayal of the animal side of women - which also links heavily to sexual themes.
There was never a feeling of exploiting the female figure for the male gaze, instead McQueen worked to disgust and frighten those seeing the pieces, often distorting the figure or using disturbing imagery. One quote stated he 'never wanted to portray women as naive'.
What truly struck me was the absolute artistry, skill and innovation that he poured into his work. By using often cheaper, un-remarkable materials, and his expertise in tailoring, McQueen could create the most striking, beautiful garments using simple skills e.g. pleats and drapery. It really demonstrates his mastery of his exercise. His willingness to take risks was particularly evident in this garment, where he decided to rip a £2000 piece of lace by forcing the resin antlers through it.
The theatrical nature of his work was evident throughout the exhibit too. There were many clips of his shows and audio was used to accentuate the feeling behind the collections of work. For example Handel's 'Sarabande' played during the Clan McQueen section, and the haunting theme of Schindler's List played as Kate Moss' hologram was shown. The pure emotion behind these two tracks served to invoke deep emotions within the viewers, as it emphasised the emotion put into the works and also reminded of the tragedy of McQueen's early death.
