The Magic of Everyday Objects

Published in

Feral Horses | Blog

4 min readJul 17, 2017

Jonana Vasconvelos exploits the appropriation, the decontextualisation and the subversion methods in order to change the nature of the object she employs.

“One of the most defining aspects of my work is the element of interaction. This enables a variety of dialogues and allows the works to accommodate different meanings.”

Biography

Joana Vasconcelos was born in Paris in 1971. The artist lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal. Her artistic career dates back to the mid-1990s, but she became internationally well-known after her participation at the 51st Venice Biennale, in 2005. During that occasion, she presented A Noiva (The Bride), a five-meter-tall chandelier sculpture made up by 25,000 feminine tampons.

Collective identity and contemporary critics are both common features of Vasconcelos’ practice. Her sculptural and colorful installations reveal concepts which are hidden behind the daily routines. Artist’s artworks display contemporary society dichotomies such as hand-crafted versus industrial, private and public, tradition and modernity and popular culture versus erudite one. These dualities show a true contemporary society idiosyncrasy. Womanhood, national identity, class distinction and family themes are symbolized by common Portuguese household items such as ceramic figures or even by the practice of knitting and crochet in order to remind to the traditional craft. An example of such, is Piano Dentelle, a 2008 artwork. She employed a grand piano and she covered it with a magnificent lacy crochet which pattern evokes snowflakes. Sculptures, installations, performances, video and photographic records represent the main artistic medium of Vasconcelos’ practice.

In 2012, the artist has found the Fundação Joana Vasconcelos which mission is to support and promote art, cultural education and all those people who decide to devote themselves to preserve these important practices. The aim of the Foundation is to conserve Vasconcelos’ artworks, preserve those of other artists while, at the same time, creating its own artistic collection. The Fundação Joana Vasconcelos is also collaborating with other organization for special projects, it awards grants and it has charitable purposes in order to support its own society.

Emblematic Projects

Valkyrie Octopus, 2015

Valkyrie Octopus is a magnificent installation whose complex structure shapes an octopus with its tentacles. The artist employed different textile materials while using the practice of crochet, Nisa embroidery, factory-made textiles and led lights in order to create a merveilleuse structure. The Valkyrie Octopus resemble a gentle guardian, the Grande Praça.

The artwork is made up of handmade cotton crochet, industrial knitted fabric, LEDs, ornaments such as bugle beads, inflatable, power supply unit and steel cables. The whole structure is completed by the three sculptures on the ground and it has reached the Aquarium of the Grande Praça.

Lilicoptère, 2012

The Lilicoptère is an extravagant Bell 47 helicopter which mocks the rich and glamorous aesthetics of the Ancient Régime’s royalty. The gold helicopter is completely decorated outside using colourful ostrich feathers, passementerie, Swarovski crystals which resemble rhinestones, Arraiolos rugs, walnut wood and gold leaf. Inside the cabin, the audience can have a look at its interior design where dyed leather upholstery, gildings and woodgrain painting feature Marie Antoinette’s initials.

A Noiva (The Bride), 2001–2005

A Noiva (The Bride) is a five-meter-tall sculptural chandelier which pendants are made by feminine OB tampons. Instead of employing the traditional glass or crystal in order to create a candid cascade of lights and colors, the artist wanted to surprise its audience. The artwork is, of course, a mockery of our contemporary society. Vasconcelos has decided to use irony and ambiguity as a medium to push the public to reflect upon the common theme of the hypocritical and repressed feminine sexuality.