Over the break between modules we were given a task to produce a series of images as a small book, inspired by one or more of Ed Ruscha’s.
I decided to use and reinterpret Ruscha’s Colored People, 1972. Taking the simple minimalistic aesthetics, as well as subversive message within, but twisting and changing the message and intent to a slightly different topic. Nolen et al aptly describe Ruscha’s intentions as being a book that:
“… indirectly addresses “colored people” with photographs of cacti and palm trees stripped of background and floating against white wall paper.”
Nolan, B.J., Cohen, M. & Zabaszkiewicz, S. (2014)
Figure 2 Murray, J. (May 2020) Flip through of physical book dummy of Visible Women
Instead of depicting exotic plants against a white background to symbolize people of colour, I chose to subvert the topic to “Visible Women” using a variety of flowers to indirectly address how women are judged on a narrow boundary of beauty standards (as well as making an indirect reference to Caroline Criado-Perez’s 2019 Invisible Women). Much like Ruscha I do not intend to describe my images via captions nor as a statement solely relying on the title as a subtle means to communicate my concept, and much like Ruschas the primary vehicle I will use to present my images will be a bound book, but unlike Ruscha this will be in landscape format. However I am not adverse to utilising modern technology and creating a virtual book as another method of presentation.
References
Figures
Figure 1 Ruscha, E. (1972) Page from Colored People. [Online] Available from: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/188.2015.a-hh/?tab=details [Accessed 14/05/2020]
Figure 2 Murray, J. (May 2020) Flip through of physical book dummy of Visible Women
Figure 3 Murray, J. (May 2020) Visible Women Digital Edition. [Online] Available from: https://issuu.com/jasmphoto/docs/visiblewomenjm [Accessed 30/05/2020]
Bibliography
Ruscha, E. (1972) Page from Colored People. [Online] Available from: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/188.2015.a-hh/?tab=details [Accessed 14/05/2020]
Nolan, B.J. [in collaboration with] Cohen, M. & Zabaszkiewicz, S. (2014) Colored People. C&C Press Artist’s Book. Pajaro, CA. Smithsonian Libraries. [Online] Available from: https://library.si.edu/exhibition/artists-books-and-africa/colored-people-full [Accessed 16/05/2020]
Jasmine Murray Photography 