Much like when US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shows how feminist make-up can be in her recent video tutorial, Swiss artist Sylvie Fleury explores the subversive potential of the beauty and luxury industry. At her exhibition at Mehdi Chouakri’s studio, apparently abstract paintings turn out to be oversized reproductions of well-known eye shadow palettes from brands like Chanel. Fleury has knowledge of fashion and art history and sees herself as an actor in both systems: her garment-shaped ready-mades are thus always more than crude consumer criticism. Fleury also appears herself, as a personalised emoji, and indeed all her works can be read as embodiments of the self, including the Acne jumpers and fur jackets that are in her own dress size. What unites these works are the humorous asides aimed at her male artist contemporaries: like Donald Judd, she creates polished wall figures with rounded corners. A basketball is reminiscent of Jeff Koons, but while the ball is pumped up to the limit by Koons, Fleury lets the air out – a first step towards the abolition of patriarchy. (Text: Laura Storfner / Photos: Ludger Paffrath, Berlin)
Mehdi Chouakri, Fasanenstr.61 (Fasanenplatz entrance), 10719 Berlin–Charlottenburg; map
Exhibition: Sylvie Fleury “Shame” until 31.10.2020
Bleibtreustr.41 (Mommsenstr.4 entrance), 10623 Berlin–Charlottenburg; map
Tue–Sat 11–18h
@mehdichouakri
@fleury49000
