For General Use Series
This body of work looks at the idea of woman as the fulfilment of the role of mother. It began with the use of the brown paper bag packaging for cement that I found on my morning walks. Something about the colour, texture and the ‘used’ nature of the bag attracted me to it. I found it strewn on the road side at home construction sites near my neighbourhood. It was often torn and encrusted with dirt and cement. When I started collecting this material, I did not know what I would use it for and when this body of work was ready to emerge, it became the background for the pieces. I especially like the colour and text on the bag, which allowed me to play with words by blotting out some of the words on the packaging and leaving others visible to recontextualise the packaging from building material to the contemplation of building a new life in a new role.
In these works, I wanted to add dimension to my use of collage and so I raised parts of the picture through the use of found objects, texture and, in one work titled, “Storage & Handling” manipulated paper to produce the desired raised effect. The title of the series, “For General Use” comes from the printed text on the bag, which alludes to the idea of the ‘use’ of the woman to reproduce. As I worked on these pieces, I contemplated my own previous uncertainties about becoming a mother as well as whether motherhood was/is/should be the ultimate goal or role of womanhood.
See Artworks Below
"For General Use Series: Mend" _ mixed media collage on paper _ 43 x 28 cms (16.75 x 11 inches) _ 2022
"For General Use Series: Chasm" _ mixed media collage on paper _ 41 x 28 cms (16 x 11 inches) _ 2022
"For General Use Series: Future" _ mixed media collage on paper _ 47 x 27 cms (18.5 x 10.8 inches) _ 2022
"For General Use Series: Storage & Handling" _ mixed media collage on paper _ 38 x 27 cms (15 x 10.8 inches) _ 2022
Inquiries
Please complete this form if you are interested in purchasing, licencing or renting any of these works or if you wish to work with me in some other way.