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Monday 20 August 2018

Painting of the month (83) August 2018: Cindy Sherman


Cindy Sherman is a photographer who specialises in female portraits emulating various iconic images of women. Her most famous work, Untitled Film Stills (1978-1980) is a set of 69 monochrome portraits based on Hollywood movie stills intended to subvert the role of women in the film world. Some of her other work includes fashion shoots, album covers and a few short films.
Image result for cindy sherman untitled film stills
Image result for cindy sherman untitled film stills
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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.Image result for cindy sherman colour

Image result for cindy sherman untitled film stills
In case you had not realised every one of these photos is a self-portrait of the artist!

12 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Bazza - I hadn't realised ... I wanted to know who they were - and you told me. She must be an incredible make up artist ... and possibly a chameleon. How very interesting to know about her ... thanks! Cheers Hilary

Parnassus said...

Hello Bazza, Cindy Sherman is definitely surreal. Her iconic images make us think, and can have an odd quality of attracting and repelling at the same time. I kind of like the historic recreations.
--Jim

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

This is a different type of art than you usually show us. No, I did not realize that it was all the same person until you told us. I did think that the four women looked similar and were possibly relatives. Thank you for introducing me to this artist.

Hels said...

Sherman's are doubly clichéd! Male artists create images which reflect the society those men think they live in; Sherman is a woman who uses those very same clichéd images to reflect the society in which women really live.

bazza said...

Hilary: Certainly a chameleon and very clever. It's interesting how recreating those images seems to subvert them.

bazza said...

Jim: Me too! They are a source of fascination but I find it hard to say why.

bazza said...

Arleen: I had my doubts whether the four were all her but they are!

bazza said...

Hels: Yes, she can easily be dismissed as frivolous but she is making serious statements which manage to entertain us at the same time!

Sherry Ellis said...

So many different looks for one person! Makeup, attire, and various poses can certainly change one's image.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

What a brilliant and creative woman. For sure, she's talented, but she uses her talent to make statements about our society. And no... I didn't realize all of the photos were self-portraits. (I can't even take a decent selfie... :) )

bazza said...

Sherry: It's quite a surprise isn't it? Although it looks like just some fun, she had a serious intent.

bazza said...

Susan: Cindy Sherman is recognised, in the art world at least, for her great talent in making the strong statements that she does in work.