Cindy
Sherman
Cynthia Morris Sherman, known in an artistic
world, as Cindy Sherman is one of the most recognizable and respected
photographers of the late twentieth century. Her photographs are worth
unbelievable sums of money reaching one million dollars at the auctions. Nearly
40 years in business, gave Cindy enough time to create her own signature style,
in which she touched on sensitive and controversial issues like for example the
role and representation of women in the society through art.
She was born on January 19, 1954 in Glen
Ridge at suburbs of New York City. Shortly after her birth her family moved to
Huntington in Long Island, where she grew up being the youngest of five
siblings. Very often the parents’ work has a huge influence on most of the
future artist, but not in Sherman’s case. Her father was an engineer and her
mother a reading teacher. They were not involved in arts in any way, besides
having a book with paintings from famous artists. She was the first in the
family to enter the art school, after developing some artistic interest in high
school.
Cindy’s journey with art began at the
State University College at Buffalo. Even though, she had no artistic
background, her parents fully supported her decision and believed in her
success. However, Cindy’s mother advised her to have a plan B, in case of the
failure in art. At Buffalo State Collage Sherman started developing the visual
arts through painting. Soon after she realised it was not something she enjoyed
and felt like there was a limit in expressing the ideas. She felt there was
nothing else to deliver in this way. It frustrated her to the degree that she
left painting and turned to photography, which became her main area of study
until she graduated in 1976 with Bachelor of Arts degree title.
Immediately after the graduation she
moved to New York City and began working on Untitled
Film Stills project, which became Sherman’s one of the most recognizable
work. Despite of many opinions that Cindy created her auto-portraits, the aim
and the purpose of the project was completely different. Sherman took
photographs of herself, but in various scenarios creating many personalities.
She did not want to show herself in the images, but how she saw men seeing
women. That is how she described her work:
“The
work is what it is and hopefully it’s seen as feminist work, or
feminist-advised work, but I’m not going to go around espousing theoretical
bullshit about feminist stuff”. (Sherman)
She kept all of the photos untitled and numbered
them to avoid being identified with its characters. All of the 69 pictures in
the series were black and white, where the artist impersonated different female
characters that supposed to give an impression of being taken from diverse B
movies.
The interesting fact about the Untitled Film Stills project is that Cindy
Sherman was able to create scenarios that look like a movie shot. While looking
at any of those photographs the viewer is almost trying to recall the scene in
which this image appeared. It only proves that Sherman is not only an
exceptional photographer, but an actress as well. Besides creating appropriate
atmosphere, lighting, finding suitable place to shoot, she also dresses up and
poses perfectly. With use of a make up and putting on different wigs, she plays
a role of iconic screen personas like Sophia Loren or Marilyn Monroe.
Even though, she did not expect to
accomplish such a big success with this series, it looks like she thought of
the smallest details. Many pictures were taken with use of an extended shutter
release, while others required someone else to shoot. This only shows how well
the project was planned and confirms that Cindy knew exactly what outcome she
wanted to achieve.
It is also surprising that Untitled Film Stills was the very first
Sherman’s project after graduation and it became her signature work soon after.
It obviously proves how talented this woman is and turning from painting to
photography was the right decision to make at the early stage of her studies. In
this project she also touches on representation of woman in the society. Some
of the images show the women as vulnerable beings in use of the settings, but
the expression or pose that Cindy presents change the point of view
immediately. The viewer by looking at character’s body language can easily get
impression of strong and confident female.
 |
| Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Stills #35 |
My favourite photograph from Untitled Film Stills series is Untitled Film Stills #35, which shows a
woman in an old and dirty looking apartment. Cindy dressed up as a housewife
with an apron and a headband. At a first glance I thought: “poor woman”, but
after short analysis of body language and Cindy’s gaze in particular, I changed
my mind immediately. I could see an enormous strength in her eyes as well as
some kind of secret intentions against the man. Almost like she was about to
fulfill her conspiratorial plan.
All of the Sherman’s photographs give the
viewer second thoughts and make them to analyze her work deeply. This is what I
like the most about her work. It does not reveal everything at once, but with
the time there is always something new to be spotted.
Another Sherman’s project that grabs my
attention is collection of photographs called Disasters and Fairy Tales from 1985-1989. In this series, she
presented completely different style than in Untitled Film Stills. Those images were set in much darker scenery
with lighting exposing tones of blue, green and red. The settings were hard to
identify, which added elements of mystery and fright. For the first time Cindy
did not appeared in each picture, but used some dolls parts or prosthetic body
parts that very often were placed in disgusting material like vomits or mould
for instance.
 |
| Cindy Sherman, Untitled #156 Disasters and Fairy Tales |
Those images looked like they were taken
from the horror movie and caused revolting reactions. This project was much
more grotesque than her earlier work, but it created perfect contrast of her
abilities. In the most repulsive things, Sherman found beauty and decided to
capture it in the collection of 35 photographs, which were shocking and
interesting in the same time.
I think each of her picture form Disasters and Fairy Tales project can
create a separate story, which can be told while looking at it. Cindy’s idea
about the image is not far from this statement:
“The
still must tease with the promise of a story the viewer of it itches to be told”.
(Sherman)
The reason I chose Untitled Film Stills and Disaster
and Fairy Tales to describe in this essay is the fact that they are both so
different and show Sherman’s work in a wide range of aspects. There is a
technique, style, drama, emotions and elements of storytelling. Most of the
mentioned photographs evoke extreme emotions and bring up second thoughts. The
first collection is in black and white, which is kind of classic and
sophisticated, while the other presents the fight of shades of darker colours.
It is almost impossible to believe that the same artist took those photographs,
but it proves that in art the sky is the limit.
The creativity and talent, which Cindy
Sherman undeniably has, helped her to become one of the most acclaimed artist
of modern times. The exhibitions with her photographs are put on regularly
around the world. One million dollars was the record price paid for Cindy’s
complete set from Untitled Film Stills.
She did not expect to achieve international recognition and prestige, but
photography industry is certainly very lucky to admire her work for nearly 40
years.
Dorota
Bencheikh
References
Pittolo, V.
(2009) “Cindy Sherman (American, born 1954)”. Available at: http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=5392 [Accessed 1 April 2014].
CindySherman.
(2004). Cindy Sherman. Available at: http://www.cindysherman.com/biography.shtml [Accessed 1 April 2014].
Hattenstone, S. (2011)
“Cindy Sherman: Me, myself and I”, The Guardian, 15 January. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jan/15/cindy-sherman-interview. [Accessed 1 April 2014].
Cruz, A.
“Movies, Monstrosities, and Masks: Twenty Years of Cindy Sherman”. Available
at: http://www.masters-of-photography.com/S/sherman/sherman_articles3.html [Accessed 1 April 2014].
Unknown.
“Sherman, Cindy (1954-): Famed American art photographer”. Available at: http://www.masters-of-photography.com/S/sherman/sherman_articles4.html [Accessed 1 April 2014].
Habert, J.
“Famous Quotes by Photographer Cindy Sherman”. Available at: http://photography.about.com/od/famousphotogquotes/a/CindyShermanquotes.htm
[Accessed 1 April 2014].
Sherman, C.
(1979). “Untitled Film Still #35”. Available at: http://whitney.org/ForKids/Collection/CindySherman/88504
[Accessed 1 April 2014].
Sherman, C.
(1985). “Untitled #156”, “Disasters and Fairy Tales Series”. Available at: http://www.museoreinasofia.es/coleccion/obra/untitled-156-sin-titulo-no-156.
[Accessed 1 April 2014].
