Shoal Arts

Artist: Laura Gabe

Title:
Medium: Ink & Coloured pencils. 54cm x 44cm.  2015

 

Public nudity in the UK is legal until someone is offended by the act. I work with a range of different   mediums including performance, video, installation and photograph. I am fascinated by social constructions  and conventions, particularly as they are manifested around perceptions of gender roles, and mental health, I examine how this is shown in communication and language. My practice is constantly developing, beginning with a process of indepth research, which will be shaped into a number of different approaches into art works. The work often allows the audience to become part of the process and invest within the work. I am able to create work to allow the audience to examine the world around them. It gives the audience a chanceto question their own view and the view of others on sometimes controversial topics. Or maybe just have a giggle at some grunting noises.

This video was created from an investigation into the hyper extreme stereotypes of gender roles and the social  contraction of  femininity and masculinity. The video is created from found footage of two sources, the   first   is the  Pumping Iron documentary created in the 1970’s showing men at their most stereotypically masculine. And the second is a 1960’s television cleaning advert in which wesee a female happily cleaning her home with pride. This video conveys the extremes and allows the audience to consider the part in which they play. Arethey  following  these extreme gender roles? Or do they  fall somewhere inbetween? Are  gender roles  still  prominent  in todays  society? How do we identify  masculinity and femininity in contemporary society? Are the lines more blurred today? The sound is also an integral element to the work as thesound   matches the opposing images. This not only creates a comedic element to the work but also encourages the rebellion of the gender roles.