What objects are associated with femininity? Male-dominated art historical eras point to more traditional motifs such as flowers for fertility and ornate, domestic accoutrements such as lace and porcelain. A more contemporary perspective might include everyday drugstore items such as disposable razors, claw clips and lipstick.
Do these objects, from centuries past to the present, ultimately embody similar messages about femininity that stand the test of time? This overarching question is a catalyst for San Francisco artists Annie Duncan.
In her work, sculptural assemblages of mascara tubes, chains, perfume bottles and hanging flowers resemble the familiar surface of a cluttered sink or overcrowded bathroom counter. Although Duncan carefully places each sculpture within these compositions, their disarray creates an air of authenticity. From uncapped cherrywood Chapstick tubes that stand as if dropped in a haste to discarded rings that you decided not to wear after all, there’s realism and relatability in every considered detail.
Encountering common goods on an oversized scale pushes the viewer to consider the social impact of each item. For example, in “Material Girl,” an enlarged IUD implant is spread across a variety of ubiquitous products, calling for the desensitization of the challenges faced by those with female bodies. “Suddenly the presence of these objects and everything they evoke – the burden, the beauty, the cultural magnitude they possess – is too great to overlook,” says the artist.
Duncan begins each piece sculpting clay with a playful attitude. “It’s basically just adult toy dough or Sculpey,” she notes. Also a painter, the artist sharpens the brushwork during the glazing phase. By treating the biscuit-fired surface as a canvas, her ceramic shapes come to life with a glossy sheen.
Lately, the artist has been exploring the power of duality and how the idea of expectations versus reality can be communicated through her sculptures.
“It has become a really generative theme in my work; this feeling that we carry our hopes and ambitions with us, and that there is always an adjustment happening with the real work. It doesn’t necessarily mean a disappointment, but kind of a change of plan,” Duncan explains. “For me, this feeling is deeply rooted in the female experience. Taking down your original vision and learning to live with it; saying one thing while meaning another.”
Duncan is currently working on an upcoming group show that will take place in Seoul. Find her Instagram for updates and check her out website for more works of art.
