Lady Garden (2016 - 2020)
Inspired by the enlarged flower paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe this work-in-progress combines collaged images of women and flowers from vintage and contemporary women's fashion and horticultural magazines, started during an artist residency at UNIDEE at Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellearte in Italy.
Critics, largely male, speculated that O'keefe's internal views of flowers, stamens, and reproductive areas, referenced female genitalia and sexual identity, which she denied.
“I do know the flower is painted large to convey my experience with the flower.” - O'Keefe
These images will be blown up to life size to display on mirrors and/or windows as a reworking of the female gaze, exploring the control of women and nature in a patriarchal climate. Inspired also by the study of mirror neurons in neuroscience and Eastern philosophies, the work is a meditation on nature and man's destruction of Mother Earth.
Critics, largely male, speculated that O'keefe's internal views of flowers, stamens, and reproductive areas, referenced female genitalia and sexual identity, which she denied.
“I do know the flower is painted large to convey my experience with the flower.” - O'Keefe
These images will be blown up to life size to display on mirrors and/or windows as a reworking of the female gaze, exploring the control of women and nature in a patriarchal climate. Inspired also by the study of mirror neurons in neuroscience and Eastern philosophies, the work is a meditation on nature and man's destruction of Mother Earth.
