Abramovic-Kahlo-Xiuwen Comparison: Self Portraits/ Female Portrayals

Frida Kahlo’s paintings are the most literal, traditional notion of self portraits. Many of her works are only of her, since she said she knew herself best, as far as subject matter goes. Her paintings usual show herself as a bust, from chest up, though some show her whole figure. Some of her works seem surreal, with impossible elements in unusual settings. Kahlo claimed to be a realist, that what she painted was real to her. The scenes in her work seem to be set on a stage-like setting, with a very shallow and steep foreground. I think this gives a strange quality to her work.

Marina Abramovic’s works are largely performance pieces involving herself. As these works are documented via photography, many appear as self portraits. A reoccurring theme in her work is of the test of the human spirit. Abramovic seeks to push herself to the limits in order to see what a human—not just herself—is capable of withstanding. Many of her performances seem utterly dangerous. Her work Rhythm 10, she had 20 knives, with which she jabbed in between her fingers. When she would cut herself, she would take another knife. This was recorded, and as she replayed it, she tried to recreate what she had done. This work, she said, considers the state of consciousness of the performer, and how she can push herself to do things she would not be able to do had she not been performing. Abramovic’s works seek to analyze the performer and the performer’s relationship to the audience. Although she speaks somewhat distantly about “the performer” she is the performer, and her body is the medium, so her works cannot help but be self-portraits.

initially Cui Xiuwen’s works cannot literally be called self-portraits. Many of her works feature a young, perhaps 13 year old, Chinese girl. This young figure is meant to represent the experiences of females in modern day China. The young girl, shown in a school-girl’s uniform, is often posed in risqué, suggestive, almost revealing positions. Sometimes this young girl is repeated and repeated until her figure consumes the entire picture plane. In another series, Angel, she shows a young girl, again, but pregnant. These pristine works have peaceful landscape backgrounds, with the tranquil, glowing, mother to be. As she was once a girl growing up in China, these works are metaphorically self-portraits.

Film Still Visualization

The concept behind this piece is one of lost love. The seaside setting with the female figure calls to mind, the iconic wife waiting for her seafaring husband to return home. The absent look of the figure suggests hopelessness, but as she turns her head, she thinks for a moment she heard something out on the water. The viewer looks through broken glass into bereavement.

Images for Compositing in Film Still Visualization

Exterior

This first image I took down the street from my

home is of the Delaware Bay in Cape May. After the first snowstorm the sand was thickly

coated in powdery snow, and seemed to be glowing white.

Interior

The view of this image looks out from a broken

window. Taken at my home, it is the result of my

sister's house party. A happy accident for my

artwork, although my parents weren't particularly thrilled.

Human Interaction

I took this photograph last, not sure what I wanted from the scene. I shot my friend, Manette, standing in the snow, dressed in white. I prompted her with different scenarios to elicit emotions, but I like this distant, preoccupied, mournful gaze.

I did it!

The Green Room

My thoughts on others' thoughts on the 4 Artists

My fellow classmates probably had the least to say about Teun Hocks. His humor is appreciated by all. Most agree that his works are surreal and dreamy, and are not so dark conceptually, as say, Crewdson or Wall.

Many students appreciated Cindy Sherman's images for being B&W, claiming that it did not detract from her images, but rather strengthened  them. Many commented on a cinematic feel, as if each image were a scene from an old movie, but I particularly like Adriana's observation that they reminded her of a b-movie. I agree with Katie's assertion that although Sherman's images feature herself, they are not self portraits, but instead are portraits of womankind or the concept of woman. 

Crewdson seems to be the most thoroughly discussed artist. A few said Crewdson's works were peaceful, but most agreed on an unsettling feeling. Amy thought his works evoked anxiety, isolation, and fear. Many of us agree that the perspective Crewdson uses, is the driving force in creating a "cinematic" (Katie), and a vacant feel (Andrew).  His work is a snapshot of a moment; as Adriana puts it, he gives you the "crucial instance of an unspoken overarching story-line."

Andrew commented that Jeff Wall's images speak of themes of urban decay. Many commented on the tension in the images, and that being equated to societal tensions. Bryan and Brittney, among others, appreciated the insight that the artist offers into his works, through his lengthy descriptions of both the image and the concept behind it. 

Oops: Addendum to previous post

Jeff Wall creates large scenes reminiscent of film stills. The viewer feels this way about the image not by chance; the artist poses actors and photographs them in the action. There is apparent tension between figures in his works. Sometimes the tension is angry or just uncomfortable, but it is always active, balancing and counter-balancing, teetering and tottering back and forth.