Identity Complex Vanity Seat
Identity Complex Vanity Seat is chair #3 in the Identity Series 2002
Constructed from post-consumer recycled tin cans, stainless steel screws, aluminum rivets, 10 k gold rivets, sterling silver rivets. While the seat looks puffy and fabric like, it is also constructed from post-consumer recycled tin cans.
Permanent Collection of the Racine Art Museum
18.6” height of seat
16” width at the widest part of the legs
16” depth at the widest part of the legs
Identity Complex Vanity Seat Cushion is fabricated from recycled tin cans.
The cushion is not fabric even though I did my very best to duplicate the appearance and construction of a fabric cushion. You can see that it was made from a "Queen's" cookie tin which is the most boring tin ever, but perfect for the vanity seat, a kind of throne to aspirations of beauty.
Text Underneath the Vanity Seat Cushion for Identity Complex
Underneath the vanity seat cushion it says: "Can’t stand that person in the mirror, Make me over, paint my face, airbrush my blemish, color my hair, Botox my wrinkles, reduce the appearance of fine lines, erase the circles under my eyes, tattoo my lips, pencil my brows, masque my imperfections, whiten my teeth, soft focus, perfect lighting, Am I visibly firm? Is there an age defying complex?"
This is all written in recycled tin can lettering and riveted on with 10k gold rivets.
Writing on the inside of the legs of the vanity seat: Identity Complex
Written on the inside of the legs in lettering from recycled tin cans.
Leg 1 Beauty magazines make me feel ugly.
Leg 2 My breasts are too big, my breasts are too small
Leg 3 Big pores, dry skin, age spots and wrinkles
Leg 4 My waist is too thick and I hate my thighs
Photography by Philip Cohen
© Harriete Estel Berman, 2021