Girl in a Peacock...

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on March 5, 2014 at 12:55pm

Curator’s Comment:

 

Girl in a Peacock Dress among the other pieces utilizing stylized 70’s fashion models takes on a hip retro pastiche. Representing idealized feminine allure, the acidic yellow ground punctuates the directly confrontational gaze of the model’s cat eyes.  The intense blue sequins break up the otherwise even range of colors and value, visually connecting the figure’s bright eyes and costume. While media isn’t indicated beyond collage, I wonder if there is raised physical texture in the embellishment, or if the entire piece is a flat illusionistic work.  I also particularly like the manner in which the curling trail of her dress echoes the waves in her hair.  Along with the back glancing tilt of her head, it skillfully throws the balance of visual weight into an asymmetrical wave of rolling lines and beaded ribbon.  In some ways these works remind me of Mickalene Thomas’s provocative and elaborately enameled seductresses and black 70’s vamps.  While your series of women doesn’t seem to include any woman of color, they do smartly confront sexualized glamour and epoch advertising head on.