MOP HEAD - THE HISTORY BEHIND IT

As i'm still unable to do any new work, i thought i'd explain to you the history behind the picture of myself with the rollers.

This was from a series of 3 photographs that were used for my finishing degree show.


YOU CAN TAKE THE WIFE OUT OF THE HOUSE BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE THE HOUSEWIFE OUT OF THE WOMAN

This work is about the struggling identity of today's modern woman. It addresses issues of motherhood and the domestic scene. Women fought for equality, only for them to labour even harder, juggling full time work and domesticity. This work shows this strife for unachievable perfection.
My feelings as a wife, mother and grandmother conflict with the feelings of entrapment and being tied to the family life, even though I wouldn't want it any other way.


The first picture i came up with was this

This was using a mop head, with large rollers on a wig stand. This photo wasn't used in the end.
The rollers were used to signity the 196o's when women would walk around all daylong on a Saturday, with their rollers in, ready to look beautiful on their one night out. You would see women like this doing their shopping etc, and nobody would bat an eye lid. Can you imagine this happening now.

From this photo it evolved into me wearing the mop head and rollers, and here are the other two photos that went on display alongside


The first one obviously just wearing a mophead, and the second one, with a flower in to depict a bride

Also part of the exhibition were other photos again depicting the woman's struggle for perfection.
This time pearls and rollers were used on ordinary household objects.

DUSTPAN AND BRUSH WITH HAIR ROLLERS

ROLLING PIN WITH PEARL EMBEDDED
RENDERING IT USELESS




FULL SIZE SALT AND PEPPER POT
MADE INTO EAR RINGS WITH PEARLS ATTACHED


SUGAR TONGS AND SUGAR CUBE WITH PEARL EMBEDDED

Little did i know when using the pearls with my work, the REAL connotation behind the pearl necklace. It took the young students to explain it to me.
Oh well, the reason I USED THEM was because of the perfect housewife wearing her pearls and twinset. lol

Last but not least was a pair of oven gloves, sewn together in the middle, again rendering them useless.

HERE IS A POEM THAT I WROTE AT THE TIME, BUT IT WASN'T USED IN THE DEGREE SHOW.

DINNER'S ON THE TABLE by Margaret Field

Your dinner's on the table love. The pots and pans scrubbed clean.
The hoovering's done, the dusting too. Even the coalman's been.
Your dinner's on the table love. Washing and ironing done.
I've changed the beds, and scrubbed the floor, the battle of dirt's been won.
Your dinner's on the table love. The larder is now full.
I've painted the walls,and ceilings too, and picked the kids up from school.
Your dinner's on the table love. The windows and mirrors they shine.
The kids are bathed, scrubbed up like new, and the garden's looking just fine.
Your dinner's on the table love, I've spent all day on this grub.
My day is done for all of you.
And now I'm off to the pub.

NEXT I WILL SHOW YOU THE SECOND PART OF MY DEGREE SHOW INVOLVING AN EMBROIDERED TABLECLOTH.