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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!

16 comments:

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

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

bazza said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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....

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

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

bazza said...

SO,AC: Now you're teasing me!

bazza said...

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

All Consuming said...

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

David said...

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

bazza said...

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

bazza said...

David: Ah, my work here is done!

klahanie said...

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

bazza said...

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.

Dixie@dcrelief said...

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{

bazza said...

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

Aliza Pershing Krepps said...

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

bazza said...

Aliza: Absolutely!