Egon Shiele and his use of line

Meghan Quigley

Meghan Quigley

Egon Schiele

I have been making a lot of drawings recently and framing some work that I  have made previously. I love Egon Schiele, and recently I have been receiving a lot of comments that our styles are similar (which I'm very happy about!) I love the contrasting use of angular sharp and curved lines to depict the human form, as well as the controversial hyper-sexualisation. 

He has long since been an inspiration for my love of linear drawings and depicting the human form!

Danielle Henderson

HATE: Natacha Merritt

Natacha Merrit, 'Ask me Anything,' Feb 2000

Polaroid
Digital Diaries (2001)

why YOU should hate Natacha Merritt...



One should really question the integrity and creditability of Taschen, having published Digital Girly's (Merritt's psuedonym) daily photos in Digital Dairies (2001). The only comment they have of Merrit's work is her use of the digital camera as a point of interest to denote the mark of technology in the participation of exploring identity.

I'm sure they also though highly of her assets to the medium of photography.

It is obvious that the photographer in question has no formal arts background, her work is akin to that of any number of girls posing and posting pictures on Facebook. Her unsuccessful attempts to de-construct the feminine archetypes is laughable, Merrit’s ‘celebration’ of female sexuality and the naturalness of sexual desire is easily criticised when we consider the preparation required to make the images: her models require release forms to be signed beforehand, the intimate use of the camera requires precise framing and the use of specifically chosen seductive lighting heightens the sensual atmosphere; with both Merrit and her model knowing that they will be viewed and an image will be created, genuine enjoyment or exploration of female sexuality is anticipated and becomes artificially created - under this guise they become no less directed or staged than pornography.

Praised as a ‘contemporary counterpart’[1] to Anaïs Nin[2] by capturing erotic desires and uninhibited sexuality in her self-portraits published online, Merritt explicitly exposes her sexuality and body as a commodity. One could argue that Merritt is in the forefront in the war on a sexually-charged, exaggerated hypersexuality but Merritt indulges in this explicit, exhibitionism - she's an attention whore.

And this is where my attention wanes.

I'm bored Merritt - you don't shock me, and sadly, you don't turn me on either.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Maxim Jakubowski, The eyes of the beholder, The Guardian, 6 May 2000

[2] Anais Nin is considered the founder of female pornography, writing explicit stories and diaries about female-specific sexual desires and awakenings.

[3] Wim de Jong, Hester Scheurwater, January 20th 2011, Volkskrant Magazine, translated from Dutch,

Image sourced from: The Muff March

Reminiscent of 'The Slut Walk' a few months back.

The Muff March is an attempt to readdress the growing numbers of female genital plastic surgery such as: hymen reconstruction, vaginal tightening and labiaplasty - which have tripled over the course of the last few years. Criticism has been directed at the fact that women are free to make their own choices, as consenting adults and that the health concerns assosiated with these types of surgeries are more worring than the influence of pornography in our culture.

Quoted from the above article:

"...Dr Petra Boynton, sex researcher and educator, commented: "The focus of the Muff March on porn is, I think, limiting. While porn has undoubtedly had an impact on how we view our bodies I don't think it is accurate to simply see it as the main factor driving women to have cosmetic genital surgery or remove their pubic hair. In fact I'd say the mainstream media has a far greater role to play here but is not held accountable."

I just wanted to point out that mainstream media and pornography go hand in hand - the pornography indutry is not afforded the same promotional benefits as any other business. In order to populate the mainstream, they target the media in order to promote their wares. (For example, Hugh Hefner labelled 'the granddaddy of porn,' in articles in the Guardian or highest paid adult film star Jenna Jameson featuring on Opera  and discussing how empowered she feels as a woman by making porn, Cosmopolitan headlines reading "101 ways to please him in the bedroom" - watch porn with him etc.) The PR companies promote 'porn-friendly' stories that make it into the newspaper and it normalises the attitude towards it - the rise in pole-dancing exercise classes or vajazzling are just two of many examples.

I think it's important that woman are speaking up and I don't think they are condemning women who do choose to have plastic surgery on their genitals. I think they are just trying to inflitrate the media and send out (actually empowering) positive body image messages. 

It's OK to be embarrassed about your body, but it's more empowering to not be defined by those insecurities.