1997 - 2004
Hair Work
Made between 1997 and 2004 this series of works explores female identity through the use of hair as a sculptural material.
The works tap into the strong cultural associations that we have with hair, both real, cut hair and fake wig hair. Cultural associations associated with Hair were also explored through drawings and photographic works.
Cautionary Tales for Young Girls
This title encompasses a group of works made using wig hair, which draws our attention to idealised forms of sexuality. Many of the works refer to literary sources; for example, The Betrothed is based on a scene at the beginning of Midnight’s Children, Tita’s Gift references an incident in Like Water for Chocolate and Split Peaches imagines a hairstyle mentioned in The Memoirs of a Geisha.
These works all address awakening or concealed sexuality.
Rapunsal & The Secret
Rapunzel is constructed using blond wig hair, woven into a hemp structure using wig maker’s tape. It references the fairy tale of that name and cascades from the ceiling being about 3 metres long. It was shown originally in an installation at The Diorama Gallery, London along with The Secret, which is made using a plastic moulded pond, surrounded by sand and earth. Blond wig hair floats on the water.
Rapunzel was then shown in various exhibitions, changing form and nature.
Various other works, based on literary sources
Veil – Performance work – MAO – 2004 – Hair Burqa made from wig hair and net
The performance work was created for Modern Art Oxford to be shown while the exhibition Veil was on show in 2004. During the performance the artist wore a Burqa woven from blond wig hair. The performance, whilst making reference to the fact that a Burqa is designed to conceal the hair also alluded to legends like The Lady of Shallot.
Video documentation of Veil being performed by the artist at Modern Art Oxford, 2004.
Split Peaches
variable (about 1m diameter each piece) – wig hair, kapok, velvet, cotton thread (based on the hair style mentioned in The Memoirs of a Geisha) - 2003
Split Peach drawings - A2 - mixed media on paper - 2003
Real Hair
These works are more formal and rely on the use of real hair to create an intense reaction in the viewer; there is generally a revulsion at the sight of cut hair. However, the hair collection references to the tradition of keeping hair locks.
