Post Modernism

Judy Chicago is an installation artist famous for her feminist and political-leaning works that use both minimalism (in her earlier works) and, later, feminism.

The Feminist Art Movement is a post-modern, political orientated art movement that believed art should speak for social change and act as a societal critic. The movement began in the 1960s and peaked in the 1970s, although its effects are still felt today.

Chicago's most famous work, the Dinner Party, depicts a table set for thirty-nine mythical and historical women from throughout history. According to Chicago, she created this work as a way to, "End the ongoing cycle of omission in which women were written out of the historical record." The table used in the piece is in the shape of a triangle and is forty-eight feet on each side. Each setting has a placemat with the represented woman's name, along with artworks and utensils representative of that woman's life. (Chicago, et. al.).

Chicago's other famous, political piece of installation art is the Holocaust Project: From Darkness to Light. In this piece, the Holocaust was portrayed as an event that occurred at the core of civilization, "in the heart of our culture, and in the midst of societies resembling our own." (LewAllen). The purpose was to get the viewer to see the Holocaust as a point of reference in evaluating our current society. The actual work is a collaboration between her and her husband, a world renowned photographer. It is composed of a collection of sculpture, photographs and paintings.

Judy Chicago's works encompass several post-modern ideas. First, her works often focus on feminist themes and ideals, an idea that has grown out of the post-modern era. Further, her work is primarily comprised of installation art in that it is large and not able to be hung on a wall. This being the case, Chicago's work is the essence of post modern's focus on the real and the current, making her a true and unique postmodern artist.

For More Information:

Judy Chicago's Home page: http://www.judychicago.com/

The Holocaust Project:

http://www.lewallencontemporary.com/new/judychicago/projects/darklight

Sources:

Chicago, Judy. The Dinner Party. New York: Penguin, 1996.

Judy Chicago: Holocaust Project: From Darkness into Light. LewAllen Contemporary. www.lewallencontemporary.com