RESEARCH NOTES 4 - Barbra Kruger

Barbra Kruger-

Barbra Kruger was born in 1975 in New Jersey. She attended "syracuse university, the school of visual arts"
Krugar's photographs are often layered with aggressive text that involves the viewer in the struggle for power and control that her captions speak to. In their trademark black letters against a slash of red background. 

Her black-and-white images are collected from mainstream magazines that sell the very ideas she is disputing such as sexualising women to sell a product. 

As well as appearing in museums and galleries worldwide, Kruger’s work has appeared on billboards, busses, posters, a public park, a train station platform in Strasbourg, France, and in other public commissions. She has taught at the california institute of art, the school of art in chicago and the university of california, berkley. 


some of her instantly recognizable slogans read “I shop therefore I am,” and “Your body is a battleground."

Much of her text questions the viewer about feminism, classicism, consumerism, and individual autonomy and desire.Kruger does this to challenge the stereotypical ways mass media influences society’s notions about gender roles, social relationships, and political issues.

'Your body is a battleground'

" Kruger created this to address and interpret heated political issues of the moment. Using a silkscreened frontal photograph of a model’s face, the artist gives the image additional meaning by dividing the large canvas it occupies into sections; from left to right, the bisected image reverses from positive to negative, and from top to bottom, the face is divided by the emblazoned slogan “Your body is a battleground.” Kruger critiques the objectified standard of symmetry that is applied to feminine beauty and perpetuated by media and advertising. The composition originally included more text and was designed as a poster for the massive pro-choice rally that took place on April 9, 1989, in Washington, D.C. "

Information was found on -

http://www.thebroad.org/art/barbara-kruger
http://www.barbarakruger.com/biography.shtml

IMAGE BANK - physical images

DEFINITION - Physical Images

Definition-
Physically manipulated images, which have been transformed or altered using various methods and techniques to achieve the desired results. To obtain these results the physical adaptation is used done by tearing, painting, cutting, scratching or burning etc.


Questions-
1. Does Gilliam's images link with Hannah Hochs work?
Slightly due to the way that the images are manipulated, just not based on a facial basis. However often focus on a woman's naked body

2. How is meaning changed through creating photo-composites?
The image does not need to make sense, the images are used to show individuality and fun, however often are used for political purposes.

3. What art movement are Hoch and Gilliam linked to?
The Dada art movement, and the modern art movement.