Carla Gannis
dal 21/3/2007 al 13/4/2007
Segnalato da
21/3/2007
Carla Gannis
Claire Oliver Gallery, New York
Jezebel
Jezebel
Carla Gannis' Jezebels rail at the mythology, history and stereotypes that
have shaped and defined femininity within our collective unconsciousness
for many generations. This archetype is not a single woman but a
compilation of multidimensional characters playing in turn the non-
conformist, social beauty, revolutionary, wanton sex goddess, victim and
superhero. Using appropriated iconography from classic film noir, pivotal
events in Feminist history, surrealist dreams and pop culture as vehicles for
her nonlinear narratives, Gannis weaves the past, present and future in
each of these large scale new media works of art.
The Artist's method of working pushes forward what has been recently
termed "digital painting", refining and personalizing the process to make it uniquely her own. Gannis begins
with a story board for each work, creating a concept which weaves together references from cinematic,
literary, and art historical interpretations of “the wanton woman”, and then recontextualizes them into a new
tableaux in which her characters convey strength, intelligence, beauty and complexity. Next she shoots
photographs that will be used as the "stage" for the character, which she then collages with appropriated
film stills in Photoshop. Finally, the Artist goes over every centimeter of these newly combined images with
many layers of digital painting, creating a truly unique visual language.
Gannis exhibition "Jezebel" features six large scale digital prints, each with a coinciding predella. Created in
the 14th century to illustrate the life of a saint, these horizontal panels were originally attached to the lower
edge of an altarpiece as a narrative for the larger panel above them. Gannis adopted this vehicle to give
context to Jezebel's historic and cultural currency, updating them to resemble a film strip which hangs below
each major panel. Her subject is always dressed in red, not only as a signifier of lust and sexuality but as an
expression of revolution, anger and courage.
"The agenda of a woman making art today should be as complex and mysterious as the work itself," says
Gannis. "Jezebel is a person conflicted and flawed yet forward thinking and courageous. Although I feel
there is a feminist bent to this body of work, my hope is that it rises above any kind of ‘exclusive’ interpretation
and takes into account a love for cinema and fascination with the history of narrative form and its new
possibilities as expressed through my digital media collage."
Artist’s Opening: Thursday, March 22nd, 6-8
Claire Oliver
513 West 26th Street New York NY 10001
Public transportation to the gallery:
Subway: C, E train to 23 St
Bus: M23, M11 to 10th Ave