Carlee Fernández | |
---|---|
Born | 1973 |
Occupation(s) | Sculptor and photographer |
Children | Two |
Carlee Fernández (born 1973) [1] is a sculptor and photographer known for her investigations of identity and power through self-portraits and altered taxidermies. [2] [3] [4]
Carlee Fernández was born in Santa Ana, California in 1973. [1] Being half-Mexican and half-European, [3] [5] she has described having unstable cultural experiences. [3] She was also raised in Europe. [3] Now, Fernández has a husband and two children whom are referenced in several of her works. [6]
Carlee Fernández believes all animals, including humans, hold great power and elegance. [5] In this respect, her taxidermy efforts are meant as homages to the animals. [5] In many of her works, she honors the bear as an emblem of self-empowerment and unbridled masculinity. [7] For Bear Study (2004), [8] she fully suits up inside of a taxidermied bear. [5]
In this piece, Carlee Fernández takes a self-portrait wearing a “mustache” achieved by placing tufts of bear fur into her nostrils. [9] Bear Hair Study (2004) was collected by the National Portrait Gallery and featured in their traveling exhibition, Portraiture Now: Staging the Self. [7] [9]
Her series entitled Friends is a body of taxidermy works from which the San Jose Museum of Art selected for their exhibit. [4] She was featured in Domestic Odyssey (2004) under one of its six subdivisions, Desperately Seeking Something [4]. The show took place from March 6 to July 3. [4] Carlee Fernández shapes animals into everyday objects such as furniture and utility objects. Her sculpture Lola Isern (2001) melds a goat with a shopping basket. [4] According to the exhibition catalogue, this practice visualizes the totality of consumerism over nature. [4] Lola Isern is also used for the front cover of the catalogue. [4]
Carlee Fernández's art explores masculinity through works wherein she casts herself as male subjects. [5] [9] [10] In her series Man (2006), she embodies masculine figures in various modes. Self Portrait: Portrait of my Father, Manuel Fernández [1] is currently in the possession of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art ( LACMA) which has included her works in several exhibitions. [1] [11] [12] This piece was featured in Phantom Sightings: Art After the Chicano Movement. [2] [1] Pictured are two gelatin silver prints of a photo of her father and a self-portrait as her father. [1] Fernández describes her strive for a replica, having to paint the stripes onto her shirt. [13] [7] She leaves out his mustache to show the critical role of facial hair in machismo symbology. [13] [1] She sought out her father in a time of irresolution, wanting to manifest his fortitude. [5] [7]
In Self Portrait as Franz West (2006), Carlee Fernández takes on the face of the sculptor whom, like her father, she considers a compelling entity. [9] [3] [2] This work was also featured in LACMA’s Phantom Sightings exhibit. [2]
Carlee Fernández | |
---|---|
Born | 1973 |
Occupation(s) | Sculptor and photographer |
Children | Two |
Carlee Fernández (born 1973) [1] is a sculptor and photographer known for her investigations of identity and power through self-portraits and altered taxidermies. [2] [3] [4]
Carlee Fernández was born in Santa Ana, California in 1973. [1] Being half-Mexican and half-European, [3] [5] she has described having unstable cultural experiences. [3] She was also raised in Europe. [3] Now, Fernández has a husband and two children whom are referenced in several of her works. [6]
Carlee Fernández believes all animals, including humans, hold great power and elegance. [5] In this respect, her taxidermy efforts are meant as homages to the animals. [5] In many of her works, she honors the bear as an emblem of self-empowerment and unbridled masculinity. [7] For Bear Study (2004), [8] she fully suits up inside of a taxidermied bear. [5]
In this piece, Carlee Fernández takes a self-portrait wearing a “mustache” achieved by placing tufts of bear fur into her nostrils. [9] Bear Hair Study (2004) was collected by the National Portrait Gallery and featured in their traveling exhibition, Portraiture Now: Staging the Self. [7] [9]
Her series entitled Friends is a body of taxidermy works from which the San Jose Museum of Art selected for their exhibit. [4] She was featured in Domestic Odyssey (2004) under one of its six subdivisions, Desperately Seeking Something [4]. The show took place from March 6 to July 3. [4] Carlee Fernández shapes animals into everyday objects such as furniture and utility objects. Her sculpture Lola Isern (2001) melds a goat with a shopping basket. [4] According to the exhibition catalogue, this practice visualizes the totality of consumerism over nature. [4] Lola Isern is also used for the front cover of the catalogue. [4]
Carlee Fernández's art explores masculinity through works wherein she casts herself as male subjects. [5] [9] [10] In her series Man (2006), she embodies masculine figures in various modes. Self Portrait: Portrait of my Father, Manuel Fernández [1] is currently in the possession of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art ( LACMA) which has included her works in several exhibitions. [1] [11] [12] This piece was featured in Phantom Sightings: Art After the Chicano Movement. [2] [1] Pictured are two gelatin silver prints of a photo of her father and a self-portrait as her father. [1] Fernández describes her strive for a replica, having to paint the stripes onto her shirt. [13] [7] She leaves out his mustache to show the critical role of facial hair in machismo symbology. [13] [1] She sought out her father in a time of irresolution, wanting to manifest his fortitude. [5] [7]
In Self Portrait as Franz West (2006), Carlee Fernández takes on the face of the sculptor whom, like her father, she considers a compelling entity. [9] [3] [2] This work was also featured in LACMA’s Phantom Sightings exhibit. [2]