Zoë Charlton
My long-term creative concerns situate constructions of blackness within the tradition of figuration. The impact of how Black bodies have been portrayed historically in media and film, whether seemingly indifferent, positive, or negative, manifest itself in our collective psyche. Early images of Black bodies (in the US) created by White political satirists, artists, and film makers are used as inspiration for work that challenges current notions of what otherness means.
Drawing remains central to my practice; however, I have been using video and sound as mediums to explore constructs of gender and race.
The work addresses ideas of complexion and race, passing, and representations of Black female bodies. Historical situations and images place the women in my work in context. Their dilemmas and awkwardness arise over objects such as 17th century clipper ships and Klan hoods, or contemporary class images of gnomes, suburbia, cheerleaders, and athletic tube socks.
www.zoecharlton.com
Drawing remains central to my practice; however, I have been using video and sound as mediums to explore constructs of gender and race.
The work addresses ideas of complexion and race, passing, and representations of Black female bodies. Historical situations and images place the women in my work in context. Their dilemmas and awkwardness arise over objects such as 17th century clipper ships and Klan hoods, or contemporary class images of gnomes, suburbia, cheerleaders, and athletic tube socks.
www.zoecharlton.com
