Barbara Kruger
(written by Jasmine)
Barbara Kruger is an American contemporary artist defined by her revolutionary work which consists of black and white 1950s photographs contrasted by bold red lettering. Her work addresses social and political concepts, including consumerism, sexuality, power and identity. The slogans within her art often directly addresses the audience, provoking them to question the mainstream. Furthermore, Kruger’s work has inspired present day fashion, namely the brand ‘Supreme’, where the red box logo was heavily influenced.
Barbara Kruger grew up in New Jersey, before attending college where she gained an interest in pottery, poetry and graphic design amongst other forms of art. Her early work involved crocheting and sewing, however this developed quickly over time.
published 02.26.21
A piece I find very compelling by Kruger is Your Body is a Battleground (1989). She created it for the women’s march in Washington in response to the new anti-abortion laws being introduced at the time. These laws undermined Roe v. Wade and attempted to reverse the previous progress made for reproductive freedom.
The stand-out phrase “Your Body is a Battleground” immediately connects the viewer to the topic of reproductive rights. This conveys to the audience that not even womens’ bodys are free from government intervention. We cannot exist in peace. Moreover, the divided model’s face is split in positive and negative exposure, showing us two sides of a story: pro-choice and pro-life. The perfect symmetry of the face could represent how women are supposed to look in order to cater to men as a mere object of beauty. Within modern society, a woman is judged more by her physical attributes than by anything else. Although many of us try to be free from society’s expectations, many women are never free from the vicious cycle that is self-image.
Whilst the message behind Your Body is a Battleground was appropriate at the time of creation in 1989, it is still relevant in modernity. I think it is disheartening that we are still marching for the same things today. I am grateful for all the change that has been made before our generation, but there is still a way to go. Therefore, remember to keep fighting for what is right and assist those who do not have a voice.