Date of Award
2021
Document Type
MA Project - Open Access
Project Type
MA Project - Curatorial Proposal
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Contemporary Art
First Advisor
Aliza Shvarts
Second Advisor
Morgan Falconer
Abstract
The purpose of this exhibition, Distorted Icons in Contemporary Art: An Examination into How We Know What We Know and Why, is to explore the nature of icons, specifically contemporary renditions of modern or traditional icons. Colloquially, icons are a symbol of something well-known or an image that is easily recognizable. Traditionally, icons refer to religious figures, most commonly devotional paintings in Roman Catholic and Orthodox Greek churches and are used as a means of prayer to represent peace, piety and faith. However, what constitutes an icon in Western contemporary culture has changed significantly. Devotional images have been replaced by celebrities as cultural icons, relying on politicians, TV personalities, singers and even more recently TikTokers to influence our everyday life.
Recommended Citation
Ruggiero, Alessandra, "Distorted Icons in Contemporary Art: An Examination into How We Know What We Know and Why" (2021). MA Projects. 112.
https://digitalcommons.sia.edu/stu_proj/112