Kia Eriksson

Things I made in the studio. These objects capture the exploration process behind the art-making.

The French term femme fatale is often found in art history and refers to a  seductive woman who brings misfortune to men. “Femme Fatale” is an installation that aims to subvert these notions by exploring the meaning of femininity and the feminine.

The female bodies are abstracted and transformed between being humorous, grotesque, and pretty. By having these bodies in constant flux, my aim is to depict nuances of the female experience and how vast this expression can be.

Femininity cannot be simplified to one thing, but is instead a contradictory and chaotic experience.

The stuffed stockings provoke and play on the stereotypically feminine and erotic connotations; the patterned fabrics connect to woman’s craft and the contemporary movement of women reclaiming beauty.

Here, the focus is on the female gaze, which subverts the expected male gaze.

A variety of my facial expressions are printed on fabric poking fun at the stereotypical idea of a – hysterical, overly emotional, and unserious woman – which also adds an element of kitsch to the piece.

The intent behind these grotesque female figures is to take back the narrative surrounding the idealized female form.

The Tools