A concern of mine is how to address cultural markers of feminine allure. In the fabric sculptures and the one large print, I investigate surface and material directly. The absence of the female body deflates the dress. Without the power of the female impression, the color, the sheen and folds of the fabric become essential properties. The curtains soften the space and divide the private (a fictional dressing area) from public. The space inside is intimate but filled with turbulence.

In the two series of prints, the pink dress no longer has openings for the sleeves; they have been seamed closed. I'm interested in how the role of the object and the role of the body are transformed by the alteration. The body struggles with its containment while the dress becomes a monstrous object battling between control and desire. The woman behind the fabric goes unseen, only revealing the essence of her femaleness. The dress adheres to the form but bars an investigation that goes beyond the surface.

My artwork addresses questions of gendered experiences. In my practice I explore how the body, the senses and memory are embedded in an artistic work from a feminist perspective. I use my own experiences and body to form a visual narrative to consider issues that are shared by many women.

Rachel J. Siegel
5/18/04