PORNO-POP

The Concept Space is pleased to present 'PORNO-POP'  an exhibition of works by international artists Ziga Kariz, Helen Gorrill, Henry Hussey  and Romily Alice Walden exploring the commodification of sex and desire in contemporary society, a process that has been heightened by the increased availability and proliferation of the internet and social media.

Focusing on the female form, the exhibition raises a host of questions about the death of subtlety, the contradictions inherent in the 'liberations' and 'freedoms' associated with the production of pornographic imagery that cultivates and reinforces the male gaze - an unreal ? hyper-real construction of a narrowed and stereotypical vision of the female form, sexuality, desire and
personality. With commodification of sex continuing to conform to mainly traditional views of heterosexual sex, which are also patriarchal where men are the subjects and women are the objects, the result is an eradication of female subjectivity.

The show will confront and engage the viewer with provocative works by questioning the deeper consequences of the representation of women as composite parts through gestures, pose and other visual expressions. The exhibition will include contemporary interpretations and references to works by great masters such as Velazquez, Goya and Matisse.

Ziga Kariz's reuse of magazine imagery photographed and reorganised to create a different context and narrative whilst addressing the point of excessive consumption and commodification of desire through objectification raises the questions of the relation between the work of art and society, politics, ideology and economy.

Gorrill's collage works often re-appropriates and revives art historical subject matter through paint; and imagery taken from contemporary popular culture, social media and adult magazines in raising questions about post-feminist concepts or projection of power and control, that investigates the enforcement, reinforcement and reactions to patriarchal society. With works that raise
question about the objectification of women in works of art as beautiful form, often nude they are less represented as artists and the works are less likely to have been created by women.

Henry Hussey known for his textile works involving skilfully layered and interweaved text, imagery and manipulated material to create exquisitely detailed works with a powerful visual expression covering a broad range of emotions and social issues. Questioning the unrealistic representation of the female form with the drawings and the death of subtlety in contemporary society,
the artist hinges onto the debate from very different angle.

Whilst Romily Alice Walden's work questions modern western society's relationship with looking, being looked at, gendered hierarchies, pleasure and the body. Known for her Neon works that is infused with the power of suggestion through perceived simple forms. The aesthetics point to the many embodiments of pornography and sexuality inherent in the contemporary portrayal of the
female form through social media aided by advertising and over exposure to celebrity culture.

The different perspectives investigated in the exhibition include the objectification of the self in the world of global capital explored in terms of feminism, feminism versus sexism, empowerment versus victimisation, and Freudian and Marxist theory. The intention is to simulate discussion about pornographic imagery in today's mainstream popular culture especially music, fashion and
advertising directed ultimately towards the male gaze and its consequences to the male psyche, behaviour and experience of the female form.