VIEW IN MY ROOM
United States
Collage, Photo on Plastic
Size: 18 W x 18 H x 2 D in
Ships in a Box
VERONICA’S CLOTHS While this body of work is not about a particular religious belief or canon, the series title takes its name from the St. Veronica legend. It is said Veronica wiped Christ’s face with her veil during his journey carrying the cross. The image of his face miraculously left an impression on the cloth. The series Veronica’s Cloths explores the residual nature of trauma. Each work is an assemblage sewn on a vintage handkerchief in a manner purposefully pointing to that which is “grandmotherly,” wise, and reflective. The unexpected juxtapositions of familiar materials, emotionally-charged images, and menacing objects (insects, spiders, snakes) are designed to attract and repel the viewer – an uncanny valley. The works represent flashes in the mind’s eye and suggest an untold drama of violation, loss, anger, grief, pain, and shame. The images are photographs of details from objects in public collections and museums (art, natural history, cemeteries, arboreta, et. al.). These details taken out of context suggest clues to a more complex narrative drama and beg the question, “what happened?” They represent the hauntings of experience, and hope for resolution and healing. The works are informed by my heritage as an Irish-American (non-practicing) Roman Catholic growing up in the South and my beliefs in feminism, secular humanism, and social justice. Writings on phenomenology, ontology, hauntology, and semiotics provide theoretical underpinnings. I admire contemporary vernacular art, Mexican retablos, Huipil Grande Traje de Gala of the Istmo de Tehuntepec tradition and other types of resplandors, religious shrines, Baroque art, 17th Century Dutch still life paintings, Haitian Voudou flags, and African power figures (nkisi) of Kongo tradition. Biography K. Johnson Bowles’ artworks focused identity, social justice, and sexual politics have been showcased in more than 80 exhibitions. Her recent body of work, Veronica’s Cloths, has been published in 50 literary and art magazines both nationally and abroad including The Journal (The Ohio State University), Textile Artist (UK), and decomp journal (Canada). She has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Houston Center for Photography, Visual Studies Workshop, and Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She received an MFA from Ohio University and BFA from Boston University. This work was published in The Journal, Issue 45.1, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 2021
Original Created:2020
Subjects:Women
Materials:PlasticSoft (Yarn, Cotton, Fabric)
Styles:AbstractSurrealismRealism
Collage:Photo on Plastic
Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork
Size:18 W x 18 H x 2 D in
Frame:Black
Ready to Hang:Not applicable
Packaging:Ships in a Box
Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.
Handling:Ships in a box. Artists are responsible for packaging and adhering to Saatchi Art’s packaging guidelines.
Ships From:United States.
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United States
K. Johnson Bowles has exhibited in more than 80 solo and group exhibitions nationally. Feature articles, essays, and reviews of her work have appeared in 60 publications around the country including SPOT (Houston Center for Photography), Sculpture, Fiberarts, and the Houston Post. She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Individual Fellowship and a Houston Center for Photography Fellowship. Recently, she served as an artist in residence at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, NY. She received her MFA in photography and painting from Ohio University and BFA in painting from Boston University. http://kjohnsonbowlesart.com
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