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Light of the World
January 8, 2002
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52 Ladies For Tea ; The Vulva Portraits
"Real art exists at the frontier of what has been explored. Because of this, it often makes people uncomfortable. A body part whose common name can still be used as a curse definitely constitutes unexplored territory. In consequence, Deb Wiles' exploration of the unknown regions of the human body is art. She has treated this revelation of the unknown with respect, as well, presenting her bronzes carefully and with due attention to aesthetics, and with no explicit intent to shock or exploit. Despite this, her piece is still very controversial. In a time where nothing is controversial, that is a remarkable accomplishment." - Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, Professor of Psychology, University of Toronto.
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Light of the World
January 8, 2002
Shame is a powerful tool of oppression. It has long discomforted me that society shames women when we make choices for ourselves regarding our bodies and our sexuality. Our bodies belong to us. It is our right to choose for ourselves. Choose when we want to have sex and with whom, if and when we want to marry, and if, when and with whom we want to bear children. Indeed these decisions belong to individual women. They do not belong to our fathers or our husbands or our lovers. We choose. For women there is a great deal of power in sexual autonomy. Shame has long been used as a tool to control women's sexual expression. This project is an investigation into the shame about our bodies and our sexualities that we are socialized to feel.
I asked women who I knew and new women that I met, if they would be interested in participating in this project by having their vulva cast in bronze then publicly displayed as an artwork. 52 women over the course of one year joined me in my home for tea. Over tea they cast their vulvae and we spoke of living as women. Below are a few of those pieces.
My gratitude to all the models, and my thanks to all for christening (naming) their vulvas and creating the wonderful cushions they rest on.
The heart is known as the seat of emotions, let the vulva be one of happiness. - Deb Wiles
Please direct inquiries regarding the exhibition & sale of work to the artist.
Copyright © 2009 Deb Wiles