Department of Visual Arts

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Browsing Department of Visual Arts by Subject "Abject art"

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    Besinning : verwaardiging van siekte
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Kirsten, Marguerite; Gunter, Elizabeth; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Visual Arts.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates the representation of the abject body in contemporary visual arts. I experience my own body as abject, through my personal experience with an all-consuming diseased body, caused by Chronic Kidney Disease. I investigate the abject body in relation to the psychological state that is created by the medical institution when dealing with chronic diseases, identity, the self and embodiment. The body and understanding of embodiment is key to our perception of being; who we think we are, and what others ascribe to us (Waskul & van der Riet, 2002). Through the creation of 'abject' objects and texture around the diseased bodies, I discovered an underlying trauma in the art expression of my work. My research method is primed by the critical theory text, Illness as Metaphor (1978) by American writer Susan Sontag. Combined with the text I investigate the work of two contemporary artists that use their bodies as subject in their photography. The selected artists are South African artist, Kathryn Smith, and Spanish photojournalist, Luna Coppola. I will analyze these visual examples by the artists mentioned above to contribute to the discussion of my art making practice. In my study, I display the abject body through the explanation of my own diseased body and present this to the viewer through installation.