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Email PageAlternate Histories plus The costume Series
March 21, 2006- April 8, 2006
Reception: March 25, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
May De Viney
Viridian Artists, Inc.
530 W 25th StNYC- Viridian Artists is pleased to present the “Alternate Histories” of May DeViney, her “what-if” scenarios of different paths taken in life plus a new group of installations entitled: “The Costume Series.” The exhibit opens Tuesday, March 21st and continues until Saturday, April 8th. There will be a reception for the artist on Saturday March 25th, 5-7pm and a gallery talk by the artist on Saturday, April 1st, 4pm. This will be DeViney’s third solo show at Viridian.
“Alternate Histories” imagines how different our lives and perceptions of ourselves might be had historical and mythical figures we look to for inspiration followed other than the familiar scenarios. DeViney has chosen even the most revered and inspirational role models and given their stories a different twist that leads to a far different – maybe even an opposite – effect than the one we know. Rather than focusing on negative scenarios, the artist has decidedly taken a more humorous, liberating or uplifting turn. Thus, a glum existence suggested in found photographs becomes an impetuous romance on a train, a Renaissance Madonna blows her cool at her misbehaving toddler and a downtrodden figure opens a door to deliverance through scientific research. Despite her humorous approach, political resistance and the ongoing struggle against entrenched interests continue to be primary concerns of the artist.
As in most of her artworks, the new ones continue DeViney’s interest in incorporating antique and junk shop metal filigree frames along with found wood frames, boxes, toys and other detritus. Also, included in this exhibit are more of the artist’s “Working Saints” series, works on canvas inspired by classical paintings including the works of Correggio and Guido Reni. These exemplify the saintly, selfless attitudes of gratitude workers (particularly female workers) are expected to have towards their work and their lot in life.
DeViney is presenting a fascinating, and possibly volatile, new series of installations in this exhibit. “The Costume Series”, as the artist has labeled it, betrays several influences: the African colonial costume dresses of Yinka Shonibare, which simultaneously embody history and criticize the cruelty it institutionalized, the burka, a symbol of the continuing restriction and scape-goating of women and finally, the perhaps more subtle ways the restriction of women goes on in societies that are considered to be enlightened and liberal. DeViney displays these costumes in a manner that places the viewer face-to-face with a life-sized female figure in order to strengthen the symbolism of the struggles that these women face every day in their lives. At the same time, the figures display alternate histories proposing resistance and options for improvement in their lives.
The "Goth Burka" installation posits one of the most anti-burka burkas anyone could imagine. Goth philosophy, one could say, declares: “Damn the opposition; I’m free to dress and behave as I wish.” And so this burka features many Goth accessories such as spikes, chains, ‘bondage straps’ and locks. The artist sees the ‘bondage’ aspects of Goth clothing to be akin to the restrictive philosophies of the original burka. Other costume installations with titles like "Enemy of the State" & "Mrs. America" are equally inspired by closer readings of cultural histories that the artist has taken to places that will perhaps lead the viewer to dress more carefully in the future.
Books and DVDs related to artists in this show
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