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"If I don't call myself white, maybe I am not"

13 replies

Felascloak · 10/08/2016 09:42

This is an article about Vanessa Beecroft who collaborates with Kanye West
nymag.com/thecut/2016/08/vanessa-beecroft-bodies-artist.html

It's quite long but I find it quite interesting. She talks about identifying with black people but my impression us that she identifies with them in a kind of othering, slightly patronising way.
She went to Sudan to learn about African culture and ended up breastfeeding some orphaned black twins, there is a picture she took on the article which is portrait style and called "white Madonna with twins". It seems exploitative to me. But maybe this is acceptable as "art".
Just wondered what others thought?

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Felascloak · 10/08/2016 09:42

nymag.com/thecut/2016/08/vanessa-beecroft-bodies-artist.html

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LassWiTheDelicateAir · 10/08/2016 13:24

"That was a refugee camp … I wanted the people to look poor. Poverty and elegance were the key words. Poverty and elegance. No trends, no fashion. Real poverty, what you encounter when you travel to Africa, Mexico, those countries where people wear their clothes with dignity and they look elegant and they look like they have intelligence. When we were casting, I said, ‘Please don’t have anyone who looks stupid. Or fancy. Please. Classical, poor, and elegant.’ ”

I would not for one minute deny a person can be dignified in poverty. It's hardly an original idea in art or photography but poverty as a fashion statement?

And what does she define as "people looking stupid" I agree it comes across as very patronising.

I'm a middle class, very well educated white woman who was born into a similar family. I suspect she may be the same.

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LassWiTheDelicateAir · 10/08/2016 13:29

because when I work with Africans or African-Americans, I feel that I am autobiographical. If I don’t call myself white, maybe I am not.”

Try reversing it.

because when I work with white Europeans or white European-Americans, I feel that I am autobiographical. If I don’t call myself black, maybe I am not.”

Yeah, right.

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caroldecker · 10/08/2016 14:33

Are you implying I can't be 'trans colour'?

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ParadiseCity · 10/08/2016 14:40

Jeez she comes across as a total pillock. And now I have 'common people' playing in my head.

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Vixxfacee · 10/08/2016 14:43

In a few years trans racial is going to be the new thing.

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ParadiseCity · 10/08/2016 14:49

Not just the wanting to be black thing. Which has been around yonks.(Memories of spitting image with mick hucknall)

Just the total wankiness of her precious existence. Including little darlings with the very best tutors etc. Challenging the establishment yet pretty much living off it...