My first impressions were negative, I found Samantha Donnelly's work immediately difficult to connect with. The overall feeling of the show was brash and chaotic, particularly on the top floor which housed a selection of towering sculptures of neon colours and thousands of different materials.
After discussing with the group, I felt that I began to understand where the artist was coming from. I appreciated the message she is trying to convey, but I still questioned the execution, especially in 'Outlining Venus'. Why had she erected swaying polystyrene monolith, painted to look like concrete? In comparison, all other pieces seemed to be linked, whether it be through materials, construction, or something else.
I appreciated the smaller, wall mounted pieces more. They seemed more concise, easier to digest and in my opinion, more effective.
The message is clear, Donnelly is commenting on the way women are perceived in society, in particular through the fashion world. As described in the booklet, she is concerned with 'breaking down subjects and moulding then anew in an altered state'. It seems to me that she began with a conventionally 'beautiful' idea (fashion, femininity) and deconstructed it to the point of being ugly and uncomfortable to look at, therefore questioning and inverting the original subject.
I left the exhibition more appreciative of the work then at the start, but I would still question whether I understood the artists execution of the work.
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