Lacquered

Lacquered investigates the construct of “Beauty” and the reinforcement of the Beauty Myth vis a vis the marketing of the “fairy tale”. The fairy tale form is utilized to perpetuate capitalism in the forms of film and entertainment, fashion and cosmetics, lifestyle pursuits and even work-place roles in which standards of appearance are functions of gender constraints rather than unique choices.

“The qualities that a given period calls beautiful in women are merely symbols of the female behavior that that period considers desirable.  The beauty myth is always actually prescribing behavior and not appearance. “
-Naomi Wolfe, The Beauty Myth

Lacquered came out of Lin’s deep interest in how labor and the Beauty Myth work in tandem to perpetuate gender constructs. The subjects are nail salon workers, young migrant women from the countryside who are lured to Shanghai for a better life – unwittingly conscripted into the cycle of capitalism which, perversely, acts against their best interests.  Lin conducts interviews with the manicurists (in order to try and understand first-hand their viewpoint – questions include their feelings about their jobs, exposure to toxins, life-styles, opinions of topical issues/social concerns). She then transforms their photos into portraits using nail polish on mirror. The portraits are spare, consisting mostly of simple strokes and dabs which shift the viewer’s gaze between their reflection and the painted portrait. The reflective surface lures viewers into performing their own relationship with Beauty and identity. Thus, the paintings both include and confront us, implicating us as complicit in perpetuating the Beauty Myth.

Installation: Portraits painted with nail polish on mirror. 50cm x 40cm x 4cm each, , hidden camera, monitor.