karen ryan: body U.S.A

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

‘the chair functions when its frame is occupied by a person. it is designed to support the human body. often design presents us with the new unoccupied chair as an object used to project our sense of taste. I do not separate chairs from people. I look twice at unwanted chairs similar to the one my grandmother sat upon. this chair is empty now not through taste but out of death. I still can see her in my minds eye sitting. ‘body U.S.A’ is about anthropology and female portraiture. the anthropology of unwanted chairs deconstructed and then reconstructed into body parts, holding memories of original chair constructions. these are momentarily discarded again into the everyday to be captured in photographs. the installation images of the ‘body u.s.a’ were all taken locally within walking distance of the studio flat that I was working from in chicago.’ – karen ryan

‘body U.S.A’ will be exhibited from april 7th – 10th at dallas art fair 2011 and from april 28th – 2nd may at next art fair chicago 2011.

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

detail of ‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

detail of ‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

‘body u.s.a’ chicago 2011 by karen ryan

www.bykarenryan.co.uk