If you thought Margaret Sutherland’s “Emperor Haute Couture” portrait of a nude Stephen Harper stirred the waters, wait till you see the new art display at Shanghai Restaurant by Ottawa artist Julie Cruikshank.
Ms. Cruikshank’s art series “Political Femme” features 20 paintings of white male politicians in drag. She’s carefully chosen politicians, both Canadian and American, who in her eyes have a bad record on gay rights, women’s rights, or the environment, such as Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Rob Ford and yes, the Prime Minister as well, and portrays them in full glorious drag, in order to provoke questions about privilege and femininity.
But this is not about making fun of politicians. “I didn’t want it to be all ‘Ha ha, look at the funny man in a dress,’” Julie explained to me when we met at a coffee shop. “That’s not the point I’m trying to make. I’m a big fan of the queer community, and I wanted people do think about it…I’m trying to say, ‘Look at these politicians. Look at the medium of drag. Let’s put them together and see what happens.’”
Political Femme - Rob Ford. By Julie Cruikshank.
Julie proposes that North American political culture suffers from an extreme case of the fear of the feminine. According to her artist’s statement, being associated with femaleness is seen as the ultimate insult. She then asks, “If a powerful male politician is afraid of the feminine, why does that give him the authority to decide how much control a woman has over her body or whether a queer couple can marry? What makes stereotypical maleness the only viable option? If putting on a dress has the power to make him weak, then surely femininity possess a great deal of strength.”
The Political Femme portraits were inspired in part by recent events, including the Todd Akin comments about legitimate rape, and the upcoming US election. Julie was also inspired by Motion 312 in Canada’s own House of Commons, proposing to study how the Criminal Code defines when life begins. “Even in Canada, these things are happening,” she commented. “In Canada, they’re a bit better at downplaying what they say, but it’s still happening and they’re just a little more subversive about it.”
In the past, Julie has displayed artwork at Ottawa venues and events such as Chinatown Remixed and Wild Oat Bakery Café. She also has had a show at an Almonte Bakery. For Political Femme, Julie’s portraits are done in acrylic paint. “They were really fun to paint,” she noted. “It was a really enjoyable experience to paint them. They’re quirky, and they’re nice little pieces. They’re fun, and even if they don’t necessarily agree with the message, I feel like it’s engaging work, and people will like they way it’s painted, I hope.”
Part of Support Local Month, Julie Cruikshank’s art series “Political Femme” will be displayed at Shanghai Restaurant (651 Somerset Street West) from November 15, 2012 to January 1, 2013. All items will be for sale. The vernissage for “Political Femme” takes place Nov. 15 from 7-10pm at Shanghai.
