After this morning’s lecture and tour, I learned a lot about the elements Julia Jacquette chose for the book and the exhibition, and the meanings after the elements. Among the many elements such as the food, consumption posters, library resources, feminism and water, I am most interested in water and food, because they act as such common but unique elements in daily life.
As told in the tour, the two huge shadows of the water pools were selected from other small images exhibited as the side. It is really fascinating how water plays not only as life support but as a camera or an document. It records the interaction of people’s life, but since the shadow in the water is too easily disappearing, it hints at the fleeting of lifespan. Also, it shows the audience how variety of a object can be used.
Also, I find two other images– the one painted from the meat leaflet and this other one with different salads and dressings. Food can be really personal and sensitive as for indicating one’s personality. Different from other images exhibited, these two images feel more personalized and intimated. They connect the audience with the artist in a way that, audience feel a sense of belongings in the exhibition and pull art which seems like a remote and undefined terms closer to the audience.
Therefore, the most moving part of the exhibition of Julia jacquette for me is how she makes art is a daily life element and how good she is at using those elements to create an art that’s close enough to real life, but still above the real life.
I think what you point out is really interesting! I was also drawn especially to the food paintings, especially when paired with certain insecurities or positive emotions. Given the fact that food is so personal, and at times a source of survival and/or insecurity, I was surprised to hear Jacquette say that the emotions that she paired with the food were not personal to her. She did not consider these revealing aspects like her memoire, but instead, an interesting experiment of sorts. I think if I were executing the same project, it would be difficult for me not to associate foods with the personal associations I have with them.