Identifying Subject Matter Statement

I began this project with an open mind and looked at Gerhard Richter's Atlas. However, my inspiration was drawn from my materials project with Marilyn Minter in the back of my mind. I chose female sexuality and the excess of the feminine as my subject matter as I wanted to explore this idea in greater depth. This led me to research artists such as Cindy Sherman, Lisa Yuskavage and Amanda Coogan, who all deal with female sexuality in  their work.I was particularly interested in the Barbie-like element in Yuskavage's work.

I used my sister as a model. I covered her face in organic materials such as gooseberries and strawberry jam, put bright coloured lipstick on her and took a series of glossy, colourful photographs.

Inspired by Yuskavage and Laurie Simmons' work , I experimented with Barbie, taking seductive yet sinister photographs.

Other artists researched include Paul McCarthy, Anna Gaskall and Nan Goldin.

Exploring the feminine

Photography

Materials Project Statement

My inspiration for this project was initially drawn from Marilyn Minter's shiny and seductive paintings, photographs and videos, which deal with female sexuality. I also looked at glamour and beauty magazines. This led me to research artist Karla Black, who uses cosmetics in her work.
Other artists who inspired me include Frida Kahlo, Pipilotti Rist, Christopher Wool, Marloes Ten Bhomer and Brian Eno, particularly his video paintings. I experimented with beauty products and many organic materials such as betroot and jam, looking for glossy textures. Keeping Marilyn Minter's video 'Green Pink Caviar', 2009 in mind, I took photographs and videos.
My most successful video was 'Body Lotion Dancing on Beetroot Juice/ Vertical Fire' which has Brian Eno's 'Thursday Afternoon' music added to it, giving it a sinister touch. I suceeded in moving away from the visualisation of the feminine and my project became more about materiality.
Many of my experiments failed or were unsuccessful. However it was necessary for me to fail in order to suceed. I enjoyed using latex and dyeing it with beetroot juice.