Zigzag

Posted: 10/09/14 12:00 | 3 Comments

‘American photographer Francesca Woodman’s photographs exhibit many influences, from symbolism and surrealism to fashion photography and Baroque painting. They have a timeless quality that is ethereal and unique. The artist began taking photographs at the age of thirteen and though she was only twenty two when she took her own life, she left behind a substantial body of work.
Her photographs explore issues of gender and self, looking at the representation of the body in relation to its surroundings. She puts herself in the frame most often, although these are not conventional self-portraits as she is either partially hidden, or concealed by slow exposures that blur her moving figure into a ghostly presence. This underlying vulnerability is further emphasised by the small and intimate format of the photographs.’ (Tate)
‘Woodman’s practice is often discussed in terms of its surreal and symbolic imagery, but her work was grounded in a sophisticated understanding of form. Her photography exemplified strong compositional motifs, and the repetitive, regular shape of the zigzag, with its strong lines and angles, was a form she used in images of disparate subjects.’ (Victoria Miro Gallery)
The Victoria Miro Gallery’s Zigzag themed exhibition proves an excellent opportunity to consider Francesca Woodman’s work. Join tutor Sharon Boothroyd for a study visit at this London gallery on 4 October. To book your place email enquiries@oca-uk.com

Posted by author: Genevieve Sioka

3 thoughts on “Zigzag”

Richard Brown says:

12th September 2014 at 10:04 am

Went to this yesterday (on the way to a talk by Christopher Steele Perkins) and found it fascinating. The photos have an eerie, timeless quality and, unlike some exhibitions, I found myself going round and round again to view them again..
Couple of points – the size of the prints (which are small relative to negative size – and are described as 8″ by 10″ in the handout but appear smaller than that) makes you concentrate on them individually but harder to look at as a body. Also I noticed that the exhibition “includes ten works newly released from the artist’s estate.” and this, coupled with my understanding that Ms Woodman produced some 800 negatives – although this figure varies depending which article you read – made me wonder how representative the displayed photos were.
Coincidentally there was a 4* review in yesterdays Standard entitled “A Fearless Artist Stripped Bare”
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/exhibitions/francesca-woodman-zigzag-victoria-miro-mayfair–exhibition-review-9725885.html

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Eddy Lerp says:

6th October 2014 at 1:19 pm

A thoroughly enjoyable study visit and most worthwhile. My log entry on the day are here http://lerpysphotographylog2.wordpress.com/?page_id=1970&preview=true

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jsumb says:

6th October 2014 at 2:53 pm

I was sorry to have missed this study trip, Woodman is an artist I have been aware of for many years, though I did go to see the show on the same day as the Fontcuberta study day – I wrote about both (and two other works at TPG) here: http://umneybow.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/pictures-and-presentations/ . I repeat one of my continuing thoughts about her work is how many groups seem to appropriate her intention to their cause. My view is that she really enjoyed making images, testing herself whilst making a lot of very playful work. And as an exemplar to any student her journals are truly wonderful, laying out as they do, her daily, sometimes hourly thoughts as well as her image intentions which can be very clearly in the completed work. Watching the film ‘The Woodmans” gives a fascinating glimpse into the parameters of her life and the aftermath into the continuing life of her family.

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