Jacqueline Hayden
When I saw the disturbing artwork of Jacqueline Hayden I was immediately reminded of the most disturbing scenes that are frequent in horror films. Looking through some of the pictures posted on the Alternative Museum’s website, I began to wonder what it is about the art that is so disturbing. Her art is very realistic and appears to the viewer to be an actual human, at least the photographed work. When I saw her sculpture on the pedestal, it gave her artwork an entire different look and feel. To see people looking up at the piece put things in a new perspective and made the artwork seem somewhat powerful. Staring up at a grotesque human body I think says a lot about a society’s standards and views on culture.
Jacqueline Hayden considers her work creations of digital composites which are photographs of older figure models and photographs made of ancient statuary in situations that usually significantly engage the visual history of aging. The photograph is, according to Ms. Hayden, "by its analog and societal nature a copy, a reproduction of 'something real.' The digital age [however,] is challenging the power of the photograph's veracity. I am attempting, in my Ancient Statuary Series, to question the presumptions of that truth." By creating these implausible images, I feel as though Hayden, through her work, is asking if not forcing her audience to scrutinize what is true and false both in photography and in reality.
When I saw the disturbing artwork of Jacqueline Hayden I was immediately reminded of the most disturbing scenes that are frequent in horror films. Looking through some of the pictures posted on the Alternative Museum’s website, I began to wonder what it is about the art that is so disturbing. Her art is very realistic and appears to the viewer to be an actual human, at least the photographed work. When I saw her sculpture on the pedestal, it gave her artwork an entire different look and feel. To see people looking up at the piece put things in a new perspective and made the artwork seem somewhat powerful. Staring up at a grotesque human body I think says a lot about a society’s standards and views on culture.
Jacqueline Hayden considers her work creations of digital composites which are photographs of older figure models and photographs made of ancient statuary in situations that usually significantly engage the visual history of aging. The photograph is, according to Ms. Hayden, "by its analog and societal nature a copy, a reproduction of 'something real.' The digital age [however,] is challenging the power of the photograph's veracity. I am attempting, in my Ancient Statuary Series, to question the presumptions of that truth." By creating these implausible images, I feel as though Hayden, through her work, is asking if not forcing her audience to scrutinize what is true and false both in photography and in reality.
I really liked Jacqueline Hayden’s work because it stuck out in my mind, and made me question it, question not only the physical art itself but also what it meant, question not only what it meant but how it was made to signify what it was trying to convey to me. I think it is a wonderful thing when artwork can be so deep and mysterious and quizzical simultaneously.
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