Ann Hirsch: Scandalishious
Video installation
April 16 – May 22, 2010
Opening on Saturday April 17, 3pm-5pm
Conversation with artists Ian Wojtowicz and Ann Hirsch, curated by Felicity Tayler, at 2pm
Project Description
An immersive video installation representing various aspects of a performance published on the YouTube video-sharing site, in which the artist plays a young student named Caroline—aka Scandalishious. Beyond the performative, the installation explores the construction of gender along with the mediatization of human relationships through systems that rely on their users’ insecurities and fantasies. The process, which has the effect of blurring the identities of the artist and her character, leads Hirsch to the following conclusion: I AM WATCHED THEREFORE I AM. This exhibition is presented in a text by Felicity Tayler.
Keys
1. “She’s an artist who has uncovered structures so pervasive and profound that no one is innocent in her work—not her characters, not her viewers, not even herself. She even performs her own artistic identity and her relationships with the people to seek to support her…Some people think she’s sacrificed her body for professional success. I personally see her success as a triumph, an instance where the art world has broken past its prejudices.”[1]
[1] Fraser, Andrea. Official Welcome performance, 2001.
3. From: AARON
To: Scandalishious@gmail.com
Date: Thu, May 28, 2009 at 2:11am
Subject: proposition
Would you be my girlfriend?
I was raised by a single mom, but I think feminism is a bit gay. I like to read novels by ernest hemingway and i’m constantly struggling to control my own testosterone levels and my reaction to most emotions is to cry. I’m sensitive yet masculine!!! very complex. just like YOU. my name IS aaron and i AM circumsized, but don’t let the details fool you, i’m NOT jewish
let me know!
4. Shaming Famewhores: Notes published on Bust magazine’s website
Part I: On Becoming a Famewhore
Part II: On Being a Failed Famewhore
Part III: And the Winning Famewhore is…