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Original poster

Verity: our GC symbol?

64 replies

thatdamnwoman · 09/07/2019 10:07

After a trip to Ilfracombe last year I've been wondering about having one of my photos of Verity

www.visitilfracombe.co.uk/item/verity-by-damien-hirst/

printed on a t-shirt as a symbol of GC womanhood. Verity is visibly female, pregnant and on the anatomically exposed side of her you can see the foetus in her uterus, her milk ducts and various other details that stem from being female and XX — things that no amount of woman-face and surgery can fake.

She stands on books: science and the law. And she brandishes the sword of truth. I can't think of a more appropriate symbol.

When I've put it to various GC women I know they have been unimpressed. 'It's by a man and we need a symbol by a woman.' 'It's horrible, it shows a woman flayed.' 'Horrible image of woman.'

I'm as pissed off as the next woman that she was created by a man but since when have images of women had to be 'nice' and aesthetically pleasing? Isn't it being nice and warm and huggly that's got us into this situation? Don't we need to be strong and angry and armed with the sword of truth and supported firmly by law and science in order to be heard?

OP posts:
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borntobequiet · 09/07/2019 10:50

It's bloody horrible and I don't think the Verity in my family would be impressed at all.

Damien Hirst is a mountebank.

MsJeminaPuddleduck · 09/07/2019 11:12

I like Verity - I think she's majestic, a fierce warrior woman

Original poster
thatdamnwoman · 09/07/2019 11:13

It's not horrible. It's art, it's engineering and it has a strong message.

OP posts:
ZebrasAreBras · 09/07/2019 11:16

I've not seen Verity before this thread- I don't think she's horrible, I think it's a beautiful tribute to the strength of women. How many statues of majestic women exist? Not many. How many of pregnant women? I reckon you could count them on one hand.

I'd love to see Verity in real life - is she still in Ifracombe?

DuMondeB · 09/07/2019 11:18

I quite like some of Hirst’s work, but you definitely have to experience it in person. A lot is lost in a photo.

I’ve not seen Verity but I would love to look up at her, next to the ocean, I bet it’s pretty cool. Better than Gormley’s gormless giant men, anyway.

ZebrasAreBras · 09/07/2019 11:19

Oh, I've just read that she's on loan for 20 years. I think I'll plan a visit this summer.

I won't tell Dh why Wink

ZebrasAreBras · 09/07/2019 11:20

Gormley's men were improved with the 'women don't have penises' stickers, I thought Grin

barelove · 09/07/2019 18:21

Apparently Verity is now identifying as Vincent (men can get pregnant too you know Angry) and is carrying the sword of nonsense and lies.

LassOfFyvie · 09/07/2019 18:34

It's bloody horrible and I don't think the Verity in my family would be impressed at all

It's possibly the least awful thing Hirst has done.

Damien Hirst is a mountebank

And a charlatan !

Daffodil2018 · 09/07/2019 18:39

Wow, I loved Verity when I saw her in Ilfracombe. I found it very moving for some reason. The scale of it and the strength and beauty of a heavily pregnant woman.

BoomBoomsCousin · 09/07/2019 18:54

I really like Verity. Not so sure about it the whole Law and Justice aspect, that seems like a bit of trite packaging because he couldn't be bothered to look beyond Lady Justice or the Statue of Liberty for a sense of what women could represent to the world. But I like the powerful pose, the scale of it, the pregnant aspect and the two sides with one showing the musculature and the womb.

donquixotedelamancha · 09/07/2019 19:00

Damien Hirst is a mountebank

And a charlatan

Surely more of a cozener?

I agree with you about the appropriateness of the symbol, OP, for all the reasons given.

smeerf · 09/07/2019 19:09

I'd never hear of this sculpture before reading this post and it's stunning. Would make an epic tattoo for the really brave!

MsJeminaPuddleduck · 09/07/2019 19:10

She's even better in real life against the changing sky and dramatic harbour scenery. Go visit her! Wink

MsJeminaPuddleduck · 09/07/2019 19:12

I loved the femaleness of her - the pregnant belly etc and it made me realise how rarely our bodies are portrayed anywhere. And she is gigantic!

borntobequiet · 09/07/2019 19:19

Our Verity had a hysterectomy at 33. She was named for Truth. Her truth is that she can never have a child.

smashamasha · 09/07/2019 19:20

I can see her from my bedroom window!

I love her!

LassOfFyvie · 09/07/2019 19:32

If you are serious about making your gender critical symbol a thing beyond just your t-shirt you need a piece of work by an artist who has been dead for at least 50 years.

I don't suppose it is likely you will bump into Hirst wearing your t- shirt but you can't just appropriate his work.

Awning10 · 09/07/2019 19:34

Verity is potentially distressing for any woman suffering from miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility.

Original poster
thatdamnwoman · 09/07/2019 19:55

Oh well then, should we lock pregnant women up and hide the babies unless they distress someone? Life is distressing, we can't all have the lives we want and bad things happen to good people: it was ever thus. It's the 'let's not cause anyone any offence' style of thinking that the TRAs are relying on to enable them to steamroller us.

As for the copyright thing, it would be excellent publicity.

OP posts:
LassOfFyvie · 09/07/2019 19:57

I don't think Hirst needs publicity.

StoatofDisarray · 09/07/2019 20:02

It doesn't say gender critical to me. It's a pretty cheesy depiction of one kind of female strength, that's all. Sorry to piss on your chips.

Original poster
thatdamnwoman · 09/07/2019 20:11

You missed. Check your shoes, they're looking damp...

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SonicVersusGynaephobia · 09/07/2019 20:19

I like it in a way. But I don't like Damien Hirst. But you're right OP that nothing will ever please everyone, and any strength of women depicted will always offend someone. Women can't be all things to all people.

nocoolnamesleft · 09/07/2019 20:22

Because there are no female artists?