After my Digital Focus presentation I think my ideas are a little clearer than they were a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I'm still not completely convinced about everything, but I am working through it. Here is my presentation I gave to my class which talks about my inspirations and has some examples of some of my previous work that is related to this theme/project.
Inspirations:
Vintage dress patterns and the imagery found on them have been an inspiration to me for quite a while now. The simplicity and line quality is very true to what I try to achieve in my own work. With me, more is less.
Traditionally silhouette portraiture was paper-cut like this example from Hans Christian Andersen.
This work by Kara Walker is a large-scale, paper-cut that she adheres to the wall of the gallery.
The simplicity and use of a shadow to convey a mood or idea is directly related to the work I've been exploring recently.
Wilhelm Staehle's work is using silhouettes but pairing irony or humor along with it. I tend to struggle conveying my idea solely using imagery so I often turn to language to help clarify my ideas.
This form of feminist art combines type with a traditionally "craft" medium. One of my longtime grudges has been that craft has remained separate from "high art."
My work:
This white on black silhouette embodies an element of art that I tend to manifest in throughout all my work: simplicity.
This digital drawing I feel connects to this project on a certain level in that the figure is simple, of another era and remains anonymous.
Here is an example of how I have used these vintage silhouettes in embroidery.
This (poorly scanned!) relief print I made recently shows another form that this theme has taken with my work. I have been struggling with this idea and these images I have in my head for a while now and would, quite honestly, like to move on!
So the "gist" of my project looks like this:
Silhouettes--Which to me is a way to represent a figure in a specific yet anonymous way.
Clothespins--With art, I feel that by adding functionality to it gives it another layer of meaning which is significant.
Handkerchiefs--These pieces of material would be a catalyst for embroidery and would contain modern day "mutterings" or things spoken under the breath by a woman. Also, the handkerchiefs in this case would be connotative of a personal belonging which could be tucked away in a sleeve or pocket to conceal the words.
Clothesline--The clothesline is a tool that has been used primarily by women throughout time, traditionally for drying and hanging clothes. Including this in the work would indicate a presence that had once used the clothesline as well as the action that takes place there.
Ink-jet transparency transfers--By using a digital component in the work, the ideas and concept are brought into contemporary times which could indicate that some of these oppressive notions are still seen today.
Text--Often I turn to text to further "illustrate" the meaning and message in my visual works. This text would indicate a type of "modern feminism" rather than a more traditional feminism, if that even exists!
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