G.L.O.R.I.A. (2023) Screenprint by Andrea McIlhatton Cardow

G.L.O.R.I.A draws the viewer’s gaze but at the same time, challenges it. It provokes questions around attitudes towards women and accepted norms in how we are represented in society, in the media and in cultural histories.

G.L.O.R.I.A. is a portrait of Gloria Steinem a lead figure in second-wave feminism. Before being a key voice in the fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in America, she was a Playboy Bunny, albeit to write an expose. She was represented in the media and that representation is now part of a social, political & cultural history. And the ways in which she was represented actually highlighted the points she made and in fact continues to make about women’s rights.

Gold and bronze inks are layered over opaque inks to give a changing view of the work as the light reflects off the metallic inks. Depending on where the viewer stands, the light reflection either shows the detail or it reflects the light and solarizes the image, almost making it disappear. The idea is that the image presented to us of anyone by someone or something else, is subject to interpretation and bias so there is no definitive way to present anyone. This is important in the history of women’s rights. Women have had to fight to be seen and heard and not be misrepresented. In this way, the technique used is dealing with themes of presence and absence in what is given to us as a representation or account of anyone’s life or actions.

Materials used:

Archival Somerset Satin 300 gsm

Details:

• Screenprint on Paper
• Size: 52 x 72 x 0.1cm (unframed) / 52 x 72cm (actual image size)
• Signed and numbered on the back
• Style: Unspecified
• Subject: People and portraits