Nothing says true love like arguing about who left the cap of the toothpaste, right? From a dark comic perspective, Stephanie Shih Investigates the multiple meanings of “domestic bliss” in a social landscape loaded with consumerism and clashing politics.
It all started with the self -help book from 1998, Divorce for dummies. The sardonic humor of a Goofy Cartoon – character who only held a finger offering a council for a person’s broken marriage – for the totally reasonable price of $ 19.99 – was a catalyst for Shih’s interest in the capitalist absurdity that came with the parting tree of the 1980s and 90s.
Shifting social and cultural factors, such as the introduction of Laws with no fault divorce laws And Emerging waves of feminismHad a drastic influence on the prospects on separation in America. Rising individualism, disillusion with the idea of a nuclear family and the recovery of female independence all played a role in the cancellation rates that have doubled for those over the age of 35.
Applicable in Shih’s Solo exhibition DomesticThe artist established in Brooklyn explains what the gallery, Alexander Berggruen, describes as ‘artifacts of a single household’. The series of objects evokes the reality of a time when materialism, distorted expectations and self -hatred created a perfect storm.
A thigh master who is probably ordered at QVC in the deep hours of the night is only on a pedestal and embodies the ways in which consumer culture was hunting for uncertainties, only to sell women the illusion of control. Prisoner of desire Rest on a ironing board to hold your place, because escapism is interrupted by the mediocreiveness of chores. TV -dinners stack on top of a glowing microwave to indicate Power Dynamics, a considerable part of the hungry man reserved for the father and the smallest box reserved for the mother.
Expansion of its earlier domestic sculptures, every ceramic object evokes a sense of realism, thanks to the thoroughness of the artist. As the exhibition text explains, Shih “ebay entries for photo references and exact dimensions of stopped packaging is shooting to form each object faithfully in his era suitable.” A series of materials and techniques is then applied to any form, such as hand -painted underlaze, painted resin and even electric elements such as lighting. Every step of the road often brings the artist the everyday with liveliness.
Domestic can be seen on Alexander Berggruen In New York City up to and including 26 February. Find much more about Shih’s Instagram And website.
