various media including laminated insects, digital illustration, chine cholle, screen print
various substrates including organza lantern and satin quilt
Artist Statement
In 2002, my knees went weak for an ad that ran in Vogue magazine of Ashton Kutcher and the lanky and lithe way he sat for Prada. I thought his silhouette was similar to the sleek and elegant legs of a mosquito that I saved from another issue. Thus began an obsession with insects, continuing my ongoing one with masculinity.
The two comments I get about this body of traditional and digital prints are that I must want to squash men, or be romantically involved with my male models. Neither could be farther from the truth. Emerging designers use insects to talk about emotions and ideas humans cannot express directly. And I am more interested in directing masculinity from a female point of view, and contributing to critical theories of gender, than in being romantically involved with models.
The first prints in “Men Are Like Gorgeous Insects” were colorful monoprints of men from fashion advertisements and insects from library picture files. I resized and layered men and insects to make visual connections between lean men and mosquitoes (“The Long and Lean Suck”) for example. Sigmar Polke, and the way he brings together imagery from contradictory or unexpected sources, influence this work. But because only one or two tropes of masculinity (or femininity) exist in ads, I became interested in photographing the striking men around me in San Francisco. “Randy”, “Slim”, “Dax”, “Mike” and others responded to open calls for models and each is an individual, who is a fabulous breathe of fresh air among the rigid constructions of gender in popular culture. As an Artist In Residence at the Kala Art Institute (2003-2004) in California, I evolved the body of work by creating multiple monoprints of each man instead of singular images, incorporating digital processes into traditional printmaking processes, and conceptualizing idea-specific materials to print on. In addition to works on paper the “Dax-Caterpillar” project is printed onto quilts as a way to talk about drag, and lanterns as a way to talk about presence. The way that Judy Pfaff expresses installation ideas across print and drawing, influence this work.
Along the way my fascination with insects grew. I laminated mosquitoes and sewed onto prints, learned that entomology classifies insects according to whether they go through a cocoon period, going to scientists at the California Academy of Sciences and seminal films like “Microcosmos” as new sources.
My most recent work in “Mike-Aphid” (2008) incorporates text and increased commitment to participatory practices. Mike participated in the project by writing an original poem in which he professes that when he DJs music for people, he becomes an aphid who feeds ants (people) his “juice” (music so they can dance all night). His poem is something I use in the work, using calligraphy to repeat and sample his poem like he samples music when he DJs. The prints are reproduced onto functional jars so collectors can serve beverages like an aphid would, and entertain their friends.
I am interested in showing the “Mike-Aphid” work in shows where the prints can be shown alongside the jars, where I can serve visitors juice out of the jars, and hold photo shoots of community men.
In my spring 2009 Emerging Artist Residency at the Atlanta Printmakers Studio, I will create the seventh man-insect pair: “Juba-Spider” about bisexuality. When I have worked with 12 men-insect pairs in this body of work, I plan to print a pin-up calendar. My print work is related to my other video and textile work, all of which explore identity politics and different points of view.
“Men Are Like Gorgeous Insects” (2002—present) is a series of traditional and digital prints representing men as sensitive and expressive creatures, and the desire of women who think they are fly. Visit www.jennyzhang.org/men.html and step up men!
Help Requested
Seeks performance artists to pose in and gallery exhibition opportunities for "Juba-Spider"print installation.
Seeks business owners who want to be interviewed about finding customers and social networking with target audiences, for "TorazoSato-Moth" print installation.
Call For Models
Step up beauties
- because you know you've got it goin' on -
1. Answers to the following questions:
a. What is your beauty?
b. What clothes or situations make you feel this way?
c. What is your availability for a photo shoot &
location?
d. If you there is a bug you have always liked, which
bug is that?
e. Any questions you have about the project.
2. A good photograph of yourself or photo of you stylin' (under 1 MB
please).
Photo shoots are never nude and anyone who makes you feel more comfortable can attend.
Model selection and use of images produced are fully up to the discretion
of the artist.
You will receive a response within one week.
