New Work Friday #103 [NSFW]

Diane Mantzaris ‘Fountain of Eve, 2011. C-Type Photograph, 250x113cms.

Diane Mantzaris, Fountain of Venus, 2011. C Type Photograph x 150x100cm.

“Both Fountain of Eve (and Fountain of Venus) have been constructed in a Frankenstein-like way from a variety of sources. I have a collection of limbs in storage, which are manipulated to look like mine and are drawn from a variety of sources art history, Greek classicism, and in Eve, religion which is parody. I am aware of the fetishisation and hidden curiosity pertaining to urinating: a sensual play of liquidity and surface of wetness, upon the solidity of marble and wax-like skin. In context however, and in the act itself (of urinating to extinguish, when there is a need, for relief or as animals do when they are angry or make their mark) was intended as an act of defiance and protest. With Eve the apple is a sign of transgression, of a metaphorical breaking of the law, of doing something that is not meant to be done. “Don’t like it? Well, watch this”. Another breaking of the law – Eve holds 2 apples. Eve pisses on fire, Venus squirts on water. In a follow on from the US example we are now entering a new war on dissent. Protest is frowned upon. Explicit protest is not supported in Australia but also there is a deeply entrenched puritanical streak in Australian culture, which seems to be focused against women making bold statements in art, there have also been objections to this work as inappropriate viewing. My work has simply offended, having come from a woman; in a male dominated art world that often draws on women’s bodies. I wanted to challenge this new taboo – women artists who draw from their own bodies and in doing so employ as an allegorical commentary on a male dominated society and shed some light on this new conservatism, which is an oddity in our region. I wanted to create an image whereby the protest itself becomes an act of seduction and is also beautiful. Standing at over 7 feet tall, Eve is meant to be seen an image of power over adversity – Diane Mantzaris 29/ 01/2012.”

The Human Clay, from 22nd February – 3rd March 2012 by Diane Mantzaris and guest artist Vasan Sitthiket.

Got new work you’d like to share? Send images no larger than 550×500 and 350k each, and a short statement about the work, to: the art life at hot mail dot com.