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gail's picture

Simone, Sculpture Subject, and Object

Hello,

Thank you, again, for letting us listen to your class.

This is a general response to yours of Simone de Beauvoir and SUBJECT AND OBJECT.

 

I just created ( in clay) a sculpture LOVERS.  I loved the swooping line and form, BUT…

After reading our introduction, I realized that I was making women the object.  She is being protected by the cape form.  The taller figure ( usually “read” man) is indeed the subject.

Lovers ObjectLovers Object

Lovers Object BackLovers Object Back

 

I did create a prior LOVERS in which the woman was Subject.  She was loving- embracing.  The male figure had no arms and was the object accepting the affection.

Lovers Woman SubjectLovers Woman Subject

However…

Collectors wanted her to be “hugged back” so a strong woman turned into a duo.

Lovers PartnerLovers Partner

 

The last image is Marriage Dance.  I love the form and it is a best seller.  However….

The woman is definitely object.  When I created this same image for a same sex union, the object/subject- non equality was nauseatingly and immediately apparent.  The second figure had to be bent down into a more normal “dancing” position to seem like partners.

Traditional Marriage Dance- Woman ObjectTraditional Marriage Dance- Woman Object

 

In our culture, it seems, a common woman sculptural SUBJECT is mother or nurture.  

How do we break/ modify / espand this sculptural tradition?

GrandmotherGrandmother

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