Fading Identity

Fading Identity is a piece that surveys advertisements aimed at women that portray women as perfect and permanently beautiful while simultaneously ascribing undesirability to physical features that develop with age. It is no wonder that so many women attempt to conceal their appearance through cosmetics and cosmetic procedures when subliminal messaging informs them that their value decreases with age.

Recycled tin cans, 10k gold rivets, aluminum rivets, stainless steel screws, plastic reinforcement for button.

Dimensions: 19" H x 14.5" W of seat x 15" D

Available for purchase or exhibition

The vanity seat is covered with images of women from advertising. The idealized and artificial standards of beauty portray women as "delicious and refreshing."

Recycled Tin Advertising contains messages such as:

“Botox my wrinkles”

“Airbrush my imperfections”
“Reduce the appearance of fine lines”
“Soft, soft focus perfect lighting am I visibly firm”

These advertisements insidiously convey messages that attribute undesirability with certain physical features, thus setting forth beauty standards and ideas about what constitutes desirable physical features.

Underneath the vanity seat it says: "Reverse the signs of aging" with a Selector Reversing Switch.”

Fading Identity is included in the book Manufractured: The Conspicuous Transformation of Everyday Objects by Mara Holt Skov and Steven Skov Holt. An entire chapter of the book features my work. CLICK ON BOOK below to see more information about this fabulous book.

RELATED ARTWORK:
Identity Complex vanity seat 2001 (above)
Identity Complex Mirror

Vanity Seat Fading Identity also included in the online Exhibition titled: "Me, Myself and I: Reflection, Vanity and Objects of Beautification" on Crafthaus.