Whilst doing some research, I have looked at Saints Alive by Michael Landy. His exhibition consists of seven sculptures.They are made from images and details from the National Gallery to which he has combined with recycled machinery,broken toys and various junk.
My project was inspired by a play written by caryl churchill, titled Top girls. The play is a about a career driven woman during the eighties,who goes on to have some sucess and celebrates by throwing a dinner party to which she invites Interesting women of history. Various women are depicted in the story, however I am to focus on pope joan who was a legendry female pope. In brief, the legend tells of this woman having diguised herself as a man and progressing to rise through the ranks of the church, until it is discovered that she is concealing a pregnancy, and whilst out riding her horse in a easter parade she falls from her horse resulting in her to give birth, to which both her and her child are stoned to death by a angry mob.
The story has been believed for many years, and scholars and modern religions concidered it fictitious, perhaps deriving from historical folklaw.
Much of my work is about gender and identity. It occured to me as a result of my investigations into this woman that I had not yet represented a woman taking on the guise of a man. Some of my research so far has delved into folklaw and religious rituals.
