Final thoughts

During this project I have looked at many different ways that artists can represent and visually explore the topic of feminism. After looking at stereotypical ways women are presented, I have contrasted them with feminist portrayals of women, and even sarcastic ones (e.g. the Love Hearts and underwear). My artist research and own work has proved that women do not need to be presented in a particular way to look "beautiful", contrary to many artists' (and society's) ideas throughout history.

I have been able to experiment with different media, as well as continuous explorations of the body and human form through observational life drawing. By using relatively modern media like photography, I have given a contemporary insight into issues surrounding feminism, such as the idea of "beauty" and the female body, which is still viewed as taboo in some countries and cultures. To make a comment on the way lots of women are still treated, I have combined "cute" elements in my work, such as pastel colours and heart shapes, with strong and almost cynical slogans promoting choice and advocating that women should have as much say as men.

Using typography and text combined with other media has allowed me to convey an obvious and strong message, unlike some other art works where the symbolism and meaning behind the piece is unclear and ambiguous. The project as a whole has deepened my interest in feminism and connected issues, and has encouraged me to keep exploring those topics in more depth.

Observational/life drawings

Bodies and skin

Throughout the project I have been doing observational life drawings, of women of various sizes and shapes. Like the work of Jenny Saville, the bodies I have found the most interesting (visually and symbolically) to draw have been larger ones.

As with Saville's paintings, what appeals to me is the lines and shapes made by the body, so my next piece is a photographic work that focuses in detail on areas of the body that are not generally regarded as "beautiful". I have also drawn significant influence from the work of Giron Mathilde, whose work also focuses on the creases and curves in bodies:

Giron Mathilde, "Fragmentation of the body"

Own images:

The idea of "beauty"

The concept of "beauty" has been explored by artists for centuries, but recently artists such as Jenny Saville have begun to explore "real beauty" and the beauty of the human body in its natural state.

Jenny Saville, "Fulcrum"

Jenny Saville, "Strategy"

Jenny Saville, "Trace"

Jenny Saville, "Plan"

Jenny Saville, "Branded"

Associated with the YBA, Saville is best known for her large-scale paintings of naked women. Unlike many other artists, she paints bodies in a way that shows them as they naturally are, rather than the plastic surgery-enhanced bodies and faces that are often broadcast by the media:

"Her feminist subject matter, of obese and sometimes faceless women with vast bodies, partly originates from a trip to America. It was while studying at University of Cincinnati in Ohio that Saville’s fascination with the workings of the human body began to affect her artwork. Much of her work features distorted flesh, high-caliber brush strokes and patches of oil color, while others reveal the surgeon’s mark of a plastic surgery operation. In 1994, Saville spent many hours observing plastic surgery operations in New York City.

Since her debut in 1992, Saville's focus has remained on the female body, slightly deviating into subjects with "floating or indeterminant gender," painting large scale paintings of transgender people. Her published sketches and documents include surgical photographs of liposuction, trauma victims, deformity correction, disease states and transgender patients"

Kruger-inspired photographic print

This supporting piece for my other slogan-based work is influenced by Barbara Kruger. Like her work, it deals with the idea of "beauty", and I have used the faces of celebrities and combined them with bold text. Unlike these "beautiful" women, most of us do not have the money or time to spend on altering our appearances to the extent that famous women do.

As Barbara Kruger appropriates photographs of famous people to make a point, so too does this piece. I have appropriated both the faces of the women, and Kruger's use of bold type, to make the work visually prominent and eye-catching.

The concept of "beauty" is subjective - what makes a woman "beautiful" in one culture is completely different from others. This piece aims to give women something to relate to, as these are faces they are likely to see all the time in the media. It breaks up the famous faces with bold text that disputes the notion that "Hollywood beauty is real beauty".