Barbara Kruger

Kruger is considered to be a very opinionated person. Her work is always bold and outspoken with presentations ranging from billboards, T-shirts, and posters to the signature red-bordered montages of words and images. Kruger's photographs are mainly focused around the ideas of self-identity, desire and public opinions towards ourselves, which is an on-going manipulation from the mass media.

This work Untitled (Not Perfect) is "Distinctively feminist in orientation, the work also examines how gender difference is reinforced through media presentation. Traditionally, women have been displayed in film and advertising as objects of desire for the male viewer. The exception occurs when women are targeted by the media as consumers; only then do they become subjects, but merely as patrons of desirable images of themselves." (2010 The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation)

In 2008 Kruger collaborated Jenny Holzer, Cindy Sherman and Louise Lawler for West of Rome’s “Women in the City” public art exhibition.The show took place across Los Angeles, CA in February 2008, and featured works by these artists on billboards, giant projections, posters, stickers, marquees, jumbotrons, and through the mediums of video, image, and sound. The point of this exhibition was to gather up some women artists that had been through the feminist art movement of the 80's. An event or achievement of the feminist movement was the crowds of thousands of women in the western worlds invading the cities in order to claim their rights. "Women in the City" show cases the success of this, and in an empowered position.

Both works comment on the struggles that women had gone through to get their equal rights in the shadow of men. Both have very bold ideas and statements. The works are considered to be "In your face". Kruger has gone from posters to public exhibitions, works on various public signs and sites on a public street.



Considering Krugers work in 1991, where the clean, minimal and very white Mary Boone Art Gallery is intirely covered (floor, walls and cieling) with text, placed images and photomontages, i would personally find such an auction as something that was really overwhelming. Although there is a minimum of three colours, the red, black and white make a bold impression aswell as the text itself.
"The entire floor was bathed in red, making it look like blood stains with white letters shining through. And not only was the visual aspect arresting, but the tone and content of the text was even more blistering" (Peter Zimmerman)
In comparrison to seeing a poster of krugers, the difference in experience is that the poster is flat, therefore demanding attention to one area, and for a shorter period of time then an installation which involves all four corners of a room. with this Mary Boone gallery exhibition, you find yourself surrounded, giving a more memorable experience.

“All that seemed beneath you is speaking to you now,”

What really gives a strong effect in Krugers work in my opinion is mainly her use in minimal colours. Her signature white text on red with black and white photography. Also the fact that she uses real life issues captivates ones attention and really educating people.

In the past 30 years Kruger has devaloped from 2d poster work, to spacial and/or installation art. Though she keeps her signature style and ideas behind her work. Educating people about the issues in everyday society. She somewhat modernised her Bold text and colors technique but still keeping her own kwirkyness and flare.

Referencing:
http://peterandjoan.blogs.wm.edu/2009/03/11/barbara-kruger-a-room-with-a-view/
http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/show-full/piece/?search=Untitled%20%28Not%20Perfect%29&page=&f=Title&object=81.2809