Critical Writing Task
Coloured thread
embroiders greyscale photos. These photographs depict family life, twelve real
stories, told through black and white. The nature of them, for example, a
family meal and a living room, invites the viewer into the narrative of their
lives, making them apart of the story, whilst the physicality of stitching
juxtaposes ideas of togetherness with invasion. Embroidery, although judged as
peaceful and relaxing, is more intrusive and physically destructive than
overlaying with pen or paint, as it requires penetrating the image with a
needle. This intrusion of surface adds another layer to the story, twisting
context and giving the viewer more information to infer into the narrative of
the families lives.
It is important to mention the embroidery is a human figure,
an anonymous but naked female, who is faceless in every image- thus
investigating themes of identity, as families are usually seen to involve feelings
of belonging, whereas the addition of the character disregards this, and appears
almost alien to the situation, only identifiable by breasts, hips, and long
hair. The simplicity of the woman also contrasts against the complexity of real
family life, once again highlighting the incongruous nature of the figures
appearance in the work.
In addition to this,
the naked body seems out of place or inappropriate once combined with a mundane
situation. These contrasting themes of innocence versus nudity encourages the
audience to consider the relationship between the stories told by the
photographs and the nude body. Much like storytelling, the needle and thread
act as a pen, writing characters into the tale.
The motion of pushing the needle through, up and down, alters
the space between the audience and the work, as if the viewer is being sewn in
too. This proximity changes the intimacy of the photographs, reflecting the
naked body. This element of space almost makes the audience identify with the
woman, feeling sympathy for her (as naked figures are often associated with
vulnerability) and wanting to understand why or what she is doing in these people’s
home; Is she a family member? Is she a real person or could she be symbolic? Is
the same person stitched throughout each photo of the series? What is her significance?
Could the work be a political or societal statement? Is the whole series one
story, or twelve separate ones? These questions invite the audience to create
their own story and interpretation.
The work asks the question of the connection between the
original photograph and the woman. The use of black and white images is
significant in relation to ideas of time, which adds context to the narrative. The
outmoded, greyscale images highly contrast against the blue, green, red, and
yellow threads. As well as making the figure stand out, demanding the viewers’
attention- she is in no way hidden, this implies that time has changed. She is
a recent addition, once again channelling the intrusive nature of her presence.
This can be seen through the bold colours used, which seem to bare no
resemblance to real life, therefore indicating she is a fictional character, or
a personified metaphor, adding to the fiction.
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