The best/worst thing I read this week was a controversial
issue that came up within the past week that I heard about but wanted to take
the time to look a bit further into the details. On Martin Luther King, Jr’s Day an article
was published that featured an image that made headline news, at least within
the art world. This article featured an elite socialite, Dasha Zhukova, sitting
on a “piece of artwork,” that was more attention grabbing than your average newspaper
cover.
Zhukova was pictured sitting on a black woman mannequin that
is presented to be lying on her back topless with heeled boots up in a position
that is quite PG-13. While reading further into the article this artwork was
part of a series that was a tribute to a pop sculptor, however, this artist
used women of color, unlike its original artist.
After hitting the news in an unfortunate way apologies were
sent out and the public seemed to only continuously bash the article. I just
believe the timing of this release, especially on one of the most profound
holidays was just disregarded at all cost. I am not against the article or the
gallery because nowadays there’s not limit to one’s expression. Art is art. The
artworks are can seem offensive and clearly objectify women especially when a
white woman is put into the picture but it also could be completely taken out
of context when both are combined. Without the white woman it would just be a
mannequin chair part of a collection in a gallery.
Interesting.
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