There is a growing interest among artists to queer everyday objects by challenging their assumed meanings and functions. This involves reinterpreting these objects through new lenses such as gender, sexual orientation, race, class, age, disability, religion, or cultural heritage. It can be done by subverting their expected usage or purpose, modifying them physically, altering their shape or appearance, or giving them new roles in social interactions.
Artist Lorraine O'Grady has created a series of sculptures called "Girlfriends" that transform ordinary objects into pieces of art. Each work features an object made out of wood or metal with subtle changes in its form or texture. The artist also added personal touches like engravings or labels that give clues about the item's history. By creating these works, she asks viewers to question what makes something valuable or desirable.
Another artist who explores this concept is Roderick Buchanan. He uses found objects like chairs or tables to create sculptural installations that often involve human bodies. His work encourages viewers to think critically about the relationship between people and objects and how they are used.
His piece "Never Never Land" features a chair with legs shaped like a penis and balls on top. It invites viewers to consider how we interact with furniture in different contexts.
Some artists use technology to change how objects look or function. Artist Vuk Cosic has created interactive sculptures using sensors and light. These pieces respond to touch or movement, making them seem alive and changing our perception of them. Another artist, Alicia DeSantis, has created a series of digital prints that explore intimacy and desire through everyday objects like clothes, toys, or food. She merges images from old photographs with modern computer-generated effects, challenging traditional representations of these items.
Queering everyday objects can make us rethink our assumptions about normative functionality and meaning. Artists encourage us to be more conscious of gender, sexuality, race, etc., when we interact with things around us. This can lead to new insights into ourselves and society as well as inspire creativity.
In what ways does the queering of everyday objects in art challenge the assumptions about normative functionality and meaning?
One way that the queering of everyday objects in art challenges assumptions about normative functionality and meaning is by subverting expectations and creating new meanings for these objects. Through this process, artists can explore various identities and experiences related to gender, sexuality, race, class, and other social categories, thereby challenging traditional ideas about what constitutes "normal" or "acceptable.