The Heroine's Mask

My current project is conceptually concerned with the image and idea of the female protagonist's journey. It is a broad term and a journey is neither short or long. It could also exist in an emotional sense but also in the physical etc. I am interested in dividing the lone female/female protagonist entity into three parts to represent three different 'versions' if you like. In one aspect, this central figure is any young woman whose existence is suppressed - particularly in the sense of her body being like a vessel, commodity or battleground. The other interpretations I am looking at refer to the hollow heroine of nonfictional texts (especially pre 1960s youth fiction/novellas) and the character that is a self-reflection of my own traits and identity as an artist.

Anyway whilst I've been working on these ideas, other little tangent concepts have been branching out here and there. One of the visual motifs I have become preoccupied with is the facial disguise and mask.

She looks so different up close

2012

Collage


Matador Moth

2012

Collage

On the subject of Crochet

Okay at least for the moment let me linger on Crochet a little while longer. Here are some visual gems lazily unearthed via the net.

1970s coat - arguably the golden era of fashionable crochet

Crochet in the trendy craft category - yes, you can crochet the contents of your fruit and vegetable fridge drawer. Just know when to stop.

1940s hat - crochet was perhaps being experimented with in some fashion ateliers. This is noggin topper is a neato!

Crochet in the Arts - Australian artist Louise Weaver (what a pun) uses a wide variety of materials and mediums in her work. Her employment of knitting in some of her recent sculptural environments/installations evokes a soulful and imaginative reading.

I found some crochet patches in the linen cupboard recently. They were most likely prepared for the assemblage of a cosy (and cute in a 'kitsch' way) couch blanket. I commondeered the green, pink and cream coloured patches and subsequently they became studio experiment subjects. I had stitched paper imagery to fabric before, but I had not previously used yarn based items or crochet full stop. Crochet does fall into that Granny pastime category and now with the resurgence of crafternoons and funky mums fondling yarn in cafes blah blah...the overall image of the distinctive weave is what interests me more. Also, it is intrinsically associated with women's work...actually not even work, more like hobby-work that was meant to have a functional outcome (i.e. cardigan, couch blanky etc). An occupation to chip away at. Maybe that is why the appearance of crochet forms in street art has such a unique signature in the urban/suburban environments - because crochet/knitting can often be inseparable from the notion of homeliness and conventional craft.

Anyway, I experimented in the studio with some paper imagery and stitched focal point images to a couple of the patches.
The eye was painted in gouache on watercolour paper, cut out and stitched onto the patch with white thread. The face image was extracted from the corny 'Moon Child' story came across inside a big book of short stories (circa 1982).

Research topic - customary garments and symbolic garb

The Torero's Jacket

Note/Warning: If you research 'Matador' via Google, be prepared to come across images that will make you wince and wander why there is such a blood thirsty need to do what the Matadors do. I feel for the Bulls.

Nevertheless, in the context of customary garments and clothing - I am interested in the traditional costume worn by the Matador de Toros (Killer of Bulls). The jacket or 'Chaquetilla', while elaborately decorated, is intended to allow for ease of movement. What I find interesting about the Torero's whole costume is the contrast between the fine and the bloodthirsty. The jacket is heavily embellished and regal in appearance, yet the sport itself is violent and cruel. They must get bloodstained sometimes if not often, all that nice needlework tsk tsk tsk. However, leaving my unsubtle opinion on bullfights aside, I can't help but swoon over the Torero's traje de luces!

Frenz and Anemones - creative block collage

Anemone Eye
(2012)
collage

I saw her face in the Himalayas
(2012)
Collage

An Unknown Vista
(2012)
Collage