Week #2, Cindy Sherman

 Cindy Sherman

 “A number of younger artists are very much indebted to Sherman in their exploration of not just identity but also the nature of representation. Now we all take it for granted that a photograph can be Photoshopped. We live in the era of YouTube fame and reality-TV shows and makeovers, where you can be anything you want to be any minute of the day, and artists are responding to that. Cindy was one of the first to explore the idea of the malleability or fluidity of identity.”

Cindy Sherman's pioneering role is absolutely amazing. She definitely has an influence on younger artists. This recognition is important because it highlights her impact on the art world and her role in shaping the way contemporary artists approach the concept of identity and representation. She suggests that identity can be fluid, adaptable, and performative, which resonates with the evolving understanding of identity in today's world. What I notice here is a changing cultural landscape.

“Cindy Sherman opened a lot of the doors. She was the trendsetter in terms of distorted characters within self-portraiture. Originally painters painted self-portraits, and then she kind of blew it open with photographic portraiture, and now there are all these avenues younger artists are taking, which would not have been so easy without her work.”

Her groundbreaking approach to self-portraiture paved the way for younger artists to explore and experiment with this art form. By challenging conventions and pushing the boundaries of self-representation, she created a space for other artists to express themselves in unique and innovative ways.

New York Times

"The Ugly Beauty of Cindy Sherman"

Cindy Sherman is unquestionably a trailblazing and significant figure in the fields of feminist art and contemporary photography. Her capacity to assume numerous personas and explore distinct female tropes in her art has been well-praised.

Her "Untitled Film Stills" series, which she produced between 1977 and 1980, is incredibly well-known. It demonstrates her skill at taking on several identities inspired by directors like Hitchcock and Antonioni. The show provides a stimulating examination of female identity and the portrayal of women in the media. The images in this collection capture the essence of women in various settings and situations, frequently with an unsettling or mysterious character that challenges the narratives being given.

“you can’t make a photograph without the entire history of Cindy Sherman’s oeuvre behind it,”

Unquestionably powerful and having a lasting impact on the art world, Cindy Sherman's work is particularly noteworthy in the fields of feminist art and modern photography. Her purposeful opacity on the significance of her work has added to its allure as a mystery and continued relevance in the fields of art and thought.

“I felt like this straggler that was running after them, saying: ‘Hey, remember me?’ ” she said in a later interview. “ ‘Don’t forget about me!’ It was easy to erase myself and put on somebody else’s face and say, ‘Maybe now you guys will remember me,’ or ‘How about this face or that character?’ ” 

Here I notice complex emotions related to self-identity, recognition, and the desire for connection or acknowledgment. It's important to consider the context in which it was made and the individual's personal experiences and feelings to fully understand the significance of their words.