ART CITIES:Rotterdam-Joana Vasconcelos,Part II

Through the construction of light-hearted yet strikingly direct images that refer to socio-political issues relevant to post-colonial, globalized and consumerist societies, Joana Vasconcelos addresses topics ranging from immigration to gender violence. Her work became known internationally after her participation in the 51st Venice Biennale in 2005, with “A Noiva” (2001-05) [Part I].

By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Serralves Museum Archive

Joana Vasconcelos in her solo exhibition “I’m Your Mirror” at Kunsthal Rotterdam presents a selection of 30 works produced between 1997 and the present day. Some of her works are extraordinarily complex: they move, make sounds, or light up. Vasconcelos uses a wide variety of materials from everyday life to make these works, such as household appliances, tiles, fabrics, pottery, bottles, medicines, urinals, showers, kitchen utensils, telephones, cars, and plastic cutlery. With them the artist constructs light-hearted yet strikingly direct images that refer to socio-political issues relevant to post-colonial, globalized and consumerist societies, addressing issues that range from immigration to gender violence.  The 23-metre-long “Material Girl” (2015) from her “Valkyries” series, named after the warrior goddesses from Norse mythology, is an emblematic work. With its organic form and construction from various kinds of fabrics, traditionally handcrafted crochet and embroidery work and LED lights, “Material Girl” represents the creative and combative spirit of women. She is assisted in producing these, at times, extremely complex works – many of her sculptures and installations move, emit sound or light up – by a team of sixty permanent staff in her studio in Lisbon. The exhibition highlights works that are characteristic of her early period, including “Valium Bed” (1999), “Burka” (2002) and “The Bride” (2001-2005), a six-metre tall chandelier made of 14,000 tampons. It also includes several of her most prominent recent works, such as “Marilyn” (2011), a pair of sky-high stilettos assembled with stainless steel pans, and the steaming, almost choreographic installation of steam irons “Full Steam Ahead” (2012). This combination of romantic beauty and hard machinery might be said to blur the boundaries between traditional male and female characteristics.  “I’ll Be Your Mirror” (2018) has been specially designed for this exhibition. It is a Venetian mask composed of mirrors set in bronze frames. Visitors can look through the gigantic mask from all sides, but are never able to escape from their own reflection in the mass of mirrors. The title of this work  is a reference to the Lou Reed Song “I’ll Be Your Mirror” and a tribute to the famous German vocalist of The Velvet Underground, Nico. She sang it as a promise to reflect – like a mirror – her ‘true self’. Another new work is “Solitaire”, a monumental engagement ring made of whisky tumblers and wheel rims. This work is be presented outside, on the square in front of the Kunsthal.

Info: Kunsthal Rotterdam, Museumpark, Westzeedijk 341, Rotterdam, Duration: 20/7-11/11/19, Days & Hours: Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00, sun 11:00-17:00, www.kunsthal.nl