Preserve
Today we visited the prestigious Elam Library at the University of Auckland in Auckland City. The book "Preserve 'Des Moines Art Center'" by Ellen Gallagher immediately caught my eye. Edited by Sheila Schwartz, distributed by D.A.P, New York and Printed in Canada by AMCE Limited.
(All works courtesy of the artist and Anthony d'Offay Gallery, London)
Ellen Gallagher is known for her racial stereotypes of African Americans. Wide Lips, Large Eyes and 'Afro' like hair
The piece of work I looked into was:
'Falls and Flips'
Oil, pencil and plasticine with text on magazine page
131/8 x 10 Inches
What I like most about this piece of art was the grid like composition, even though i usually tend to like more organic feeling art work, the way the grid wasn't perfect but you could tell the piece was based on a grid, was really visually appealing.
Ellen Gallagher's work, Falls and Flips also features an extensive use of repetition and collage, this because it was a magazine cover that she had altered. The repetition of the glamourous black ladies, with their make-up and costume, was almost a stereotypical thing, which is something she is renowned for.
Also the blurb above here work reinforced the idea of racial stereotypes, and discrimination that was going on at the time of her making this piece of art
"Jack Johnson, first black heavyweight champion of the world, towers over a dazed Jim Jefferies, 'The great white hope', July 4 1910, Several persons were killed in race riots in American cities following the fight"
An interesting thing about Ellen Gallagher's piece, Falls and Flips, is that the ladies in the work, have no eyes, and there are no captions below their photos. Which were there before Gallagher altered it.
"Eyes are the windows to your soul"
If this statement were true then would these beautiful have no soul? Would they have no sense of feeling, belonging, wanting..?
How can we tell that these woman are everyday woman if they lack the natural instinctive qualities you and I possess today.
By Ellen Gallagher obliterating these pictures, the woman featured inthem go from being individuals, to be all the same.
Clones of one another.
When really, at the time of making this piece, Ellen gallagher and people of her colour, were going through one of the tougest times for African-Americans in America.
I found I could also relates this piece of work to my current art Studies.
As part of my studio brief I am required to present four photos, that are to be put up for exhibition, at our school of Visual Arts.
The Elegance of Boxing, which is my chosen topic, is one that pushes people out of their ordinary comfort zone, and are made to think outside the boundaries as to what their perception of boxing is. Similar to what Gallagher is doing with her magazine works.
With the use of collage and repitition, also taken from David Hockney, another artist who deals with collage, Gallaghers work can be shown through my recent works as a Year 1 Bachelor of Visual Arts Student.
Boxing is seen as a violent and masculine sport, and somewhat predominantly black, Stereotypically speaking. But with the use of Ellen Gallaghers work, "Falls and Flips", Which has a blurb about boxing at the top, I can try to break that stereotype, to bring in a new feel towards boxing.
Thanks Emma
ReplyDeletean interesting choice of book because it has got you thinking about contextual and studio projects. A fourth year student in 2008 produced a book of photographs she had taken at the women's sports fighting gym in the city. her emphasis was on the strength/power of women and used bow to create images of strong powerful women in a feminine environment which was the boxing ring. With the blanking out of the eyes think about how this is achieved. When else do you see this?