Yes, we can see you now and we love it! Deborah Eddy’s exhibition Can You See Me Now? at Queensland College of Art’s Project Gallery is a visual art exhibit that must be seen, because visibility of women’s art and representation of women in sculptural form is necessary for all to see. Not only is the theme regarding ageing women and their body, displaying their bits and bobs in an eccentric non-objectifying manner, but the materials used will make you think twice. Were those boobs made out of beanies? Are those cables popping out of a stuffed beanie with the plug-in part of the cord representing the nipple? Is that a bunch of zip ties to represent pubic hair? It appears that this visual representation of a vulva consists of stuffed socks and has delicate fabric placed in the centre.

 

This exhibit is full of questions, and you may need to do a second tour to be able to recognise what materials are being used, as they are so carefully crafted that you may not notice the intricacies and the details that consist of these sculptures that make up parts and whole bodies of women. As you walk around you will notice not only notice female bits and bobs, but fully sculptured women, with their body parts fully fleshed out for all to see. With again, similar materials you may have to do a double-take to see exactly what was used for these fully formed female sculptures that represent women as they naturally are. Instead of being confronted we join in with a smile as we recognise that women in their natural state is not something to be feared, nor objectified in any manner, as seeing women in a neutral state is important for us all.

 

Therefore, it’s important to join in, recognise and celebrate the female form, not to shy away, but to embrace women of all kinds, shapes, colours and sizes and in particular ageing women. This exhibition symbolically shows that older women feel and are invisible,and that the only way for women of this age to be seen is to to be shown. Hurry now over to the Griffith University South Bank campus so you can see this delightful exhibition for yourself, running until Saturday 16th of September.

 

By Joanna Letic