Contemporary Body Art - Orlan
The unrealistic ideals of beauty within current culture, derived from the western canon informs the practice of Orlan. Her work is heavily dependent upon the development of technology as it ensures she can not only use her body as a medium but it also allows her to document her performances.
The Kiss of The Artist
1976
Orlan's first major work was 'the kiss of the artist; which she performed in 1976. It became a subject of scandal stirring various reactions but ultimately it gave the perfomance artist a name in art. It also pushed her forward on her career as an artist denying the ideal as a result of the immediate firing from her job. The work acted to critique the "gendered and exploitative model of the capitalist economy." Unlike anything ever seen before Orlan used her body as the medium for her performanced based work.
The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan
Ongoing since May 1990
The reincarnation of Saint Orlan is an ongoing series of plastic surgeries where the artist transforms herself to the ideals of beauty within the western canon in order to create a "composite woman." The surgeries as a part of her "carnal art" were filmed and broadcasted in instiutions worldwide. Contradictory to traditional values Orlan embraces cosmetic surgery instead of condeming it. The deconstruction of Orlan's body is significant as it reveals the deconstruction of women in our current culture. By undergoing these surgeries in order to fulfil the ideal of beauty Orlan is commenting on the contructed and narrow percpetion of beauty within society.
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