The question of identity is something
often explored in art. As artists we often draw from our life experiences
(which are essentially what makes us, us) to create meaning in our work. For me
these experiences are always what inspire me to create something new. Obviously
there are other reasons and inspirations in creating art, but for me identity
is a key base point. Cindy
Sherman is an artist who comes to mind when thinking about identity as
her work is very much based around an exploration of it, and in particular her Untitled
Film Stills (Sherman, 1977 – 80.) collection. As Michael Archer stated:
‘The lie
to one’s instinctive grasp of Sherman’s identity in these pictures is given by
the next in the series, and the next, which each present her as an entirely
different person.’(Archer, 2002, pp. 175.)
Suggesting
that her constant change in appearance was not to become the stereotype she was
portraying but to
erase her own sense of self (Archer, 2002.) This confuses identity
rather than clarifying it, but I think this is really interesting, as after
all, ones own identity is pretty confusing anyway. Rather than trying to portray to the public
her own self, she takes up the role of different women’s’ stereotypes, like the housewife, or the
(film noir) damsel in
distress. So I would say that she explores the identity of women in her work as she
very rarely dresses up in the persona of a man. I think she is trying to show
that a woman cannot just be categorised into a stereotype as they so often are, and she is made
up of many different experiences that give her different aspects to her
identity, in just the same as men are.
References:
Archer, M.
(2002.) Art Since 1960 – new edition.
London: Thames & Hudson.
Sherman, C.
(1977-1980.) Untitled Film Stills [Photograph.]
New York.