Contemporary artist Carmen Mariscal’s work is concerned with fragility, confinement, and memory. These photographs question the symbols of domination through headdresses. When making crowns, tufts, bridal veils and other headdresses in barbed wire their symbolism changes, perhaps becoming more revealing. Through these three photographs of the “Queen” headdress, other symbolic references included the Fairy, the Bride, and the Cage, Mariscal questions the limits of fairy tales, symbols of power, and the divisions that these hierarchies provoke. Mariscal has used barbed wire in her work for over 20 years; for her it represents the frontier- the border, between countries, between people, between the inside of the body and the outside, between the myths we believe and the reality we live. Indeed, this is a powerful and characteristic sample of her work, anchored to critical and scholarly dialog.
The Queen photographs from the Coiffes series were taken during the private performance created for the publication of the book Autoritratto by artists Eleonora Aguiari, Carmen Mariscal and Rebecca Dolinsky published by Book Machine at Centre Pompidou. The title of the book, Autoratratto Coiffe/Kwaf/Féminin (Self-portrait, headdress/Fémenin) is a reference to feminist art critic Carla Lonzi´s 1969 book Autoritratto which was presented for the first time in its French version in 2012 at a lecture at the Maison Rouge, a contemporary art Collection in Paris (now closed). The lecture took place in the “Salle de Coiffes” (Headdress Room) which displays the Maison Rouge’s founder Antonie de Galbert’s vast collection of headdresses.
Carmen Mariscal was introduced to the gallery by contemporary and friend, Tatiana Parcero. Mariscal’s work first debuted with jdc Fine Art gallery in a online exhibition You and Yours (2020-21). We are proud to include this set of silver prints it in our 10 Year Anniversary exhibition, Time in two directions. As a a citizen of the world, Mariscal’s work is direct yet open. It strikes a universal tone and revisits themes critical to people everywhere. The Mexican artist was born in California, lived in Paris, and is currently pursuing her PHD in London. Her work has exhibited in Mexico, the US, Spain, France, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Malaysia and Russia.
Carmen Mariscal
”The Queen” from Coiffes series, 2018-19
Edition of 3 | 23.6 x 18 in. silver gelatin prints
$2,000.00 each | $5,700.00 triptych