Work Title: Super Rich/Ultra Gorgeous/Extra Skinny/Forever Young
Artist: Barbara Kruger
Media: Photographic silkscreen/vinyl
Dimensions: 84 x 93 inches
Year: 1997
Image Link: Super Rich/Ultra Gorgeous/Extra Skinny/Forever Young
Exhibition History: List 1, List 2
Artist Statement:
" I try to deal with the complexities of power and social life, but as far as the visual presentation goes I purposely avoid a high degree of difficulty."
Artist: Barbara Kruger
Media: Photographic silkscreen/vinyl
Dimensions: 84 x 93 inches
Year: 1997
Image Link: Super Rich/Ultra Gorgeous/Extra Skinny/Forever Young
Exhibition History: List 1, List 2
Artist Statement:
" I try to deal with the complexities of power and social life, but as far as the visual presentation goes I purposely avoid a high degree of difficulty."
Curator Comments:
Barbara Kruger’s art exemplifies the cultural battles “of bodies waged in the mass media, in the streets” and “in halls of governments” (McDaniel and Robertson 80). Super Rich/Ultra Gorgeous/Extra Skinny/Forever young truly exemplifies this –it is a black and white image of a woman with ice covering her face, with text reading, “Super rich, Ultra Gorgeous, Forever Young”. The whole idea of the woman and her ice mask, literally, is to bring down swelling on her face, something that would happen after plastic surgery. Futuristically, the woman’s face could be viewed as being frozen in time, trying to pause her aging process and appear young forever.
The black and white image was taken from a “mainstream magazine” that sells the “very ideas” that she is disputing through her text. (Barbara Kruger). Kruger is acknowledging the media today, and how women will go through any sort of pain or suffering to appear young and beautiful. What is ironic about the photo is that the woman is attempting to look younger with flawless skin due to plastic surgery, but all she looks is ridiculous. The Futura Bold typeface against the red text bar was purposely made simple, so as soon as the viewer saw the image they would immediately read the text. The simplicity of the quote and the font add to the overall message of the image; getting straight to the point, all womn should be is super rich, gorgeous, skinny, and young. Kruger’s text “questions the viewer about feminism, classicism, consumerism, and individual autonomy and desire” (Barbara Kruger). Kruger wants the audience to realize how consumerism and the media control the population enough to go to any means to do what the media wants—and that is rich, gorgeous, skinny and young.
Barbara Kruger’s art exemplifies the cultural battles “of bodies waged in the mass media, in the streets” and “in halls of governments” (McDaniel and Robertson 80). Super Rich/Ultra Gorgeous/Extra Skinny/Forever young truly exemplifies this –it is a black and white image of a woman with ice covering her face, with text reading, “Super rich, Ultra Gorgeous, Forever Young”. The whole idea of the woman and her ice mask, literally, is to bring down swelling on her face, something that would happen after plastic surgery. Futuristically, the woman’s face could be viewed as being frozen in time, trying to pause her aging process and appear young forever.
The black and white image was taken from a “mainstream magazine” that sells the “very ideas” that she is disputing through her text. (Barbara Kruger). Kruger is acknowledging the media today, and how women will go through any sort of pain or suffering to appear young and beautiful. What is ironic about the photo is that the woman is attempting to look younger with flawless skin due to plastic surgery, but all she looks is ridiculous. The Futura Bold typeface against the red text bar was purposely made simple, so as soon as the viewer saw the image they would immediately read the text. The simplicity of the quote and the font add to the overall message of the image; getting straight to the point, all womn should be is super rich, gorgeous, skinny, and young. Kruger’s text “questions the viewer about feminism, classicism, consumerism, and individual autonomy and desire” (Barbara Kruger). Kruger wants the audience to realize how consumerism and the media control the population enough to go to any means to do what the media wants—and that is rich, gorgeous, skinny and young.
Bibliography:
"Barbara Kruger." The Art History Archive. Lilith Gallery. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. <http://www.arthistoryarchive.com
/arthistory/feminist/Barbara-Kruger.html>.
Kruger, Barbara. 5. Super Rich/Ultra Gorgeous/Extra Skinny/Forever Young. 1997. Photograph. Web. 28 Apr. 2010.
<http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y9JCP1wazVo/RiFUCvkZXlI/AAAAAAAAEgo/K9M1a95rR6U/s400/K7.jpg>.
McDaniel, Craig, and Jean Robertson. Themes of Contemporary Art. Second ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.
"Barbara Kruger." The Art History Archive. Lilith Gallery. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. <http://www.arthistoryarchive.com
/arthistory/feminist/Barbara-Kruger.html>.
Kruger, Barbara. 5. Super Rich/Ultra Gorgeous/Extra Skinny/Forever Young. 1997. Photograph. Web. 28 Apr. 2010.
<http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y9JCP1wazVo/RiFUCvkZXlI/AAAAAAAAEgo/K9M1a95rR6U/s400/K7.jpg>.
McDaniel, Craig, and Jean Robertson. Themes of Contemporary Art. Second ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.
