Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Painting of the Month (31): Cindy Sherman

As I am unlikely to start a series called 'Photographer of the Month' I thought I would slip the wonderful Cindy Sherman into this series.
Cindy Sherman is a photographer who specialises in female portraits emulating various iconic images of women. Often they are of famous women and have the deliberate look of being movie-stills based on well-known images. The black and white picture below looks very Hitchcockian to me and the second one is like Doris Day or Debbie Reynolds. I'm not sure about the first one.
                                              


She has also produced images parodying historical portraits, centre-folds and publicity shots. They are deliberately clichéd. She is a true artist in the sense that she creates images which reflect the society we live in and holds up a mirror for us to examine our values. I don't think there is meant to be deep meaning in these photos and one should avoid 'reading-in' too much meaning in them. Just enjoy them!



In case you had not realised every one of these photos is a self-portrait of the artist!
at

16 comments:

  1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe11 July, 2012

    I saw her exhibit at MOMA a few months ago. It was fascinating and I enjoyed it very much.

    ReplyDelete
  2. bazza11 July, 2012

    SO,AC: I am envious because I have only ever seen her work in books and magazines! It's so much fun and she captures the essence of her subjects very well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11 July, 2012

    The rather saucy Sir Tom Eagerly says:
    Bazza, why didn't you show us some of the pin-ups. You're a great disappointment to me young man....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe11 July, 2012

    The exhibit was quite large and took up over 5 rooms.

    ReplyDelete
  5. bazza11 July, 2012

    SO,AC: Now you're teasing me!

    ReplyDelete
  6. bazza11 July, 2012

    Sir Tom: I see you are labelling yourself as 'saucy' Sir Tom. Very apt.

    ReplyDelete
  7. All Consuming11 July, 2012

    I like the bottom four the best, it's an interesting idea, good post :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. David12 July, 2012

    Dear bazza,
    I'd never heard of this artist before, so found this illuminating. And interesting, to boot.
    Thanks bazza.
    Very Best Wishes,
    David.

    ReplyDelete
  9. bazza12 July, 2012

    AC: Thanks. My favourite is the black and white. It's so much like a still from a fifties movie.

    ReplyDelete
  10. bazza12 July, 2012

    David: Ah, my work here is done!

    ReplyDelete
  11. klahanie14 July, 2012

    Ah bazza,
    Very good and very clever. I thought I noted a resemblance in each photo.
    I also thought they may well be the rather bewildered Lady Eagerly.
    Have a jolly good weekend, old chap.
    Gary

    ReplyDelete
  12. bazza14 July, 2012

    Gary: Clever, isn't she? Once you've seen these pictures you will probably recognize her work when you see it again.
    I think Lady Eagerly must be about fifty years older than Ms. Sherman!
    Have a great weekend Gary.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dixie@dcrelief14 July, 2012

    bazza, this artist was new to me. Googled her work and wow(!); darn near scary. Thanks, I think, for the exposure(no pun intended). 8{

    ReplyDelete
  14. bazza14 July, 2012

    Dixie: There is a scary or edgey element to her work but overall I think it's amusing.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Aliza Pershing Krepps18 July, 2012

    There she goes. The one..if not - the prototype.

    ReplyDelete
  16. bazza19 July, 2012

    Aliza: Absolutely!

    ReplyDelete