Louise Bourgeois

In the last unit I made some screen prints of a wedding and although I was pleased with them, they only really came together when I made the images into a book.

Today I watched a television recording of Imagine (2007) Louise Bourgeois: Spiderwoman presented by Alan Yentob.  I have never really understood her work - mainly because it is quite shocking - but I watched it because she was a feminist and she used stitch. 

The programme explained her life and her work.  She was damaged, vulnerable, single minded, brave, strong and talented.  Tracey Emin featured in the programme too - both biographical artists.  Towards the end of her life, Louise Bourgeois used fabric from her wardrobe of clothes to make appliqued images which she sewed into a book made of embroidered napkins. 

I am again going to use a book format to present my collage images alongside quotes from the survey about feminism.

topical

When I decided on the topic for the self-negotiated unit, I hadn't anticipated or noticed the revival of interest in feminism.  The whole of Woman's Hour, Radio BBC4 was about feminism today.  I sense a real change of direction.  Woman are happy to say they are feminists now - which wasn't always the case.

My 'off the cuff' survey to women asked 'Are you a feminist'.  Forty responses, of which 31 said Yes, only 5 said No, and 4 categorised themselves differently.  

Current discussions include the anniversary of Emily Davison's death at Epsom, the discontinuance of Page 3 model in The Sun, Caitlin Moran's funny and youthful books and blog and disproportionate representation of female images on banknotes.

I've been drawing images - suffragettes, a little doll in a rag dress with what looks like a black eye and a little teddy bear with a spanner.

and another thing

Simon Kirk, Exhibit U, 2013

I have been trying to define 'collage'.  In my Learning Agreement I used the word 'intriguing' to described what I am trying to produce.  I have just found this definition which perfectly describes what collage means to me. 


"Contextually the work of Robert Rauschenberg is important.  Rauschenberg took images out of context and juxtaposed them with other similarly displaced images.  Presented in this way the images generate complex interlockings of meaning and the work remains multidirectional and open ended.  Meaning is inherent but impossible to pin down precisely."  

Kirk, Simon, 2011, Green Pebble's ART East Anglia, Green Pebble Publications, Suffolk. p165 

keeping busy - lots of research

eco prints

After soaking some cotton fabric in wood ash solution as a mordant I sprinkled peony petals, forget-me-nots and leaves over the surface, rolled it up tight and steamed it for an hour.  The resulting print will form the background to a collaged screenprint.

text work

Feedback from my last unit - I must do more preparation, more drawing, more planning and that I should develop a range of motifs.  I like to use text in my work, Nick suggested I challenge myself by creating 20 images using text.   I chose the suffragettes' motto 'Deeds not words' and set about creating 20 images. 

Dear Sirs