Robyn McCallum: Patrimony
Until December 11, 2009 at Pikto Gallery
"The reinterpretation of well known works has long been a tradition in fine art, rooted in the renaissance artists' varying versions of such iconic images as the Last Supper or Madonna and Child. Operating within a more modern context, the images in this series similarly represent the appropriation and re-contextualiztion of art, in particular classical western paintings.
This series employs more "modern" representations of women to recreate famous paintings from throughout art history. In doing so it illuminates the through-line of female representation that exists art historically: from early fine art paintings to the pop cultural images of the 20th century. Using magazine 'pin-ups' to represent the more modern woman is itself a significant selection, in that these were images unabashedly created with the aim of sexual excitement. However, one cannot ignore the relationship between these representations of women and the equally objectifying nature of the historical paintings being re-contextualized. Many of the high art paintings created throughout history were done so as pornography in an era preceding film, photography and the Internet. It is only through the passage of time that "high art" and its acquired status has succeeded in distancing itself from this fact".
Distillery District, 55 Mill St. Bldg. 59-103, Toronto
http://www.pikto.com
