Today's Fresh Art Friday is one of my favorite currently working artists, Cindy Sherman. Here are a few key things that you probably need to know about Sherman: She works only in photography, she is always the model of her work but rarely if ever the subject of her work, she's a cornerstone for post-modern photography.
In the words of the DMA, 'throughout her career, Sherman has presented a sustained, eloquent and provocative exploration of the construction of contemporary identity and the nature of representation, drawn from the unlimited supply of images from movies, TV, magazines, the Internet and art History'.
In honor of the Cindy Sherman Retrospective curated by MOMA and currently on view at the DMA , I thought I'd pull some of my favorite images and talk a little bit about her various series. Please note that this re-cap does not include the Sex Pictures or the Clowns series (2002-2004) because well, clowns creep me out, I eventually may run for politics and this is my blog. Otherwise enjoy!
The Film Still Series
Sherman's Film Still Series dates from 1977-1980 and consists of 69 black and white photographs. For this series Sherman posed as various characters all of which feel familiar in a 1940's film noir kind of way. Although they are completely made up characters, the viewer often feels like we know the story of this character- who this woman is, what she's doing, and where she's going. Largely viewed as the photographs that 'put her on the map', this body of work is still relevant today as we explore stereotypes of women. My favorite quote regarding this work is that Sherman stopped the series because she 'ran out of cliches'.
Untitled Film Still #6, 1977 from the Film Still Series
Untitled Film Still #65, 1980 from the Film Still Series (I'm in the Modern's Collection!)
The History Portrait Series
Sherman created this body of work largely between 1989-1990. It is comprised of 35 large color photographs re staging European portraits from the 15th-early 19th centuries. This is really the first time Sherman uses obvious props and prosthetics, often quite humorously. The is also the first time that we see Sherman blurring the gender line and becoming a male subject.
Untitled, 1988 from the History Portrait Series
Untitled #201, 1989 from the History Portrait Series
Untitled #207, 1989 from the History Portrait Series (I'm in the Modern's collection)
The Fashion Series
In 1982 and again in 1993 Sherman created a series of works featuring the clothing of Dianne Benson and Dorothee Bis. The fashion shoots were meant to be the antitheses of glamour found in the fashion world- often featuring a model who was silly, exhausted, dirty or otherwise disturbed. The series ran in Harper's Bazaar in 1993.
Untitled #276, 1993 from the Fashion Series
The Headshot Series
If I'm being honest, this is probably the most interesting series for me. In the 2000's Sherman again explored stereotypes, but lent it a hefty dose of satire. Here, Sherman models as women that we all know and probably cringe at. How realistic is the soccer mom in #396? I'm pretty sure you can still find her living in Midland, Texas! I really hope that the DMA explores this particular series more.
Untitled #355, 2000 from the Headshot Series
Untitled #396, 2000 from the Headshot Series
Society Series
In 2008, Sherman drew her attention to society women. In earlier interviews she has been careful to point out that the women portrayed are not based on an actual person, but like her Film Stills were feel entirely familiar with them. In researching #463, I thought it was so interesting that she modeled it after young women vying for the spotlight, not unlike certain Housewives we've all become familiar with. The resulting image comes off at once appealing and desperate.
Untitled #463, 2007-2008, from the Society Series
Untitled, 2008 from Society Portraits
Balenciaga Series
In 2008 Sherman collaborated with design house Balenciaga to create a 6 image series. I LOVE these images, they are just too wacky not to share. The prints actually ran in 2010, but they are just as fab today in 2013.
Untitled (Balenciaga), 2008
Current Work
This exhibit premiered Sherman's photographic mural pieces, which represent her first public exhibition of work using photoshop. In these pieces, Sherman models standing before various landscapes in mostly vintage Chanel. She has used photoshop to edit the landscape or her face. The work is very large, so it's a distinct departure from her previous work in that respect too. I can't wait to see them in person.
Untitled #512, 2011, from the site specific photographic mural made in 2011-2012
Love Cindy's work? Great me too!
Check out the MOMA interactive exhibition here
In Dallas?
Visit the show through June 9th.
Tickets are $16 for adults (this exhibition requires a ticket in addition to the DMA free general ticket)
Happy Friday to you!
-DBC
***Update***
The Star Telegram ran this informative article about the Sherman retro in the 3/24 paper. Enjoy!
Fresh Art Friday posts are intended for the sole purpose of promoting excellence in the arts community. The author of these posts is honored to share interesting, innovative and high quality art with Almond Milk & Honey readers. The author in no way intends to deprive the originating artist of his or her copyright status and readers are encouraged to respect the copyright status of all works posted.
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