The Deceiver and The Deceived
This is a series of artwork from 1996-2004 constructed with recycled “tin” cans from post-consumer packaging. The pre-printed steel has recognizable images from our material culture. The relentless messages conveyed in media and advertising about a woman's appearance become a frame of stereotypical roles and limited expectations.
The fan quilt pattern also refers to the use of fans in western society gatherings as a device of flirtatious deception. The strong connection between traditional crafts, “women’s work” and the home are devalued in our society.
Who is the deceiver and who is the deceived in our society when women are portrayed as “pure, alluring, refreshing, and delicious, good as homemade?”
The Me Too Movement and gender equity issues in the news are all a reflection of a larger dynamic, one where men have been in positions of power. It is not easy to deconstruct these issues to reinvent the future.
Stitch, Care, Mend Fold Muse Reach Stress Wear Break Torn
© Harriete Estel Berman, 2021