Zoë Mendelson opens 16 July and runs till 10 August 2001
Series runs till November 2001
Tardis Studios, 52-56 Turnmill Street, London, EC1
Zoë Mendelson is the second artist to exhibit at the Tardis as part of Bowieart.com?s Window Pain Project. Zoë will utilise the space as a window; maintaining its original function rather than investing in it purely as an exhibition space. In so doing the artist brings into question notions of the urban landscape and voyeurism. Using the sexualised imagery that surrounds us daily, Zoë Mendelson creates a form of sexual window-shopping for Middle England.
Continuing themes from previous works where the artist seduces the viewer through beautifully rendered feminine imagery, the work at the Tardis will draw passers-by into the space through the installations attractiveness and charmingly crafted adornment. At first glance tasteful and respectful, Zoë?s work is a fantastical daydream inhabited by young girls bound by marvellous flora and ornamentation. However, idealised examples of innocence and beauty are not of interest to the artist and the imagery soon exposes itself as being politely and subtly soiled; with closer inspection one discovers that the work is hiding a rather more disturbing content.
As if they have the just walked out of a Country Life advertisement young women posing in an homely environment will inhabit the window on Turnmill Street. Prudish Victoriana surroundings envelop our heroines who smile out at our urban world on the street. The women and the decorative ornamentation that surrounds them both act to seduce the viewer, yet take a peek inside their world and the household possessions also appear to be seducing the women. The domestic bliss is shattered by the women?s sexual encounters with the objects that now seem to be sold to us as deviant toys.
After the initial sweetness this elaborate and fantastical installation will leave you with a bitter aftertaste which questions where the female body begins and fantasy takes over.
Zoë Mendelson graduated from The Royal College of Art last year; she has recently exhibited at Snow Gallery, and has also shown at the Proud Galleries, The Lux and Assembly, Stepney City.