Counterculture
Artwork by Maria Cazzato, instagram account: @maria.cazzato.art
Media Used:
"Cheeky" - Oil on Canvas, Embroidery on Canvas
"Dolled Up" - Oil on Canvas
"Fuss and Feathers" - Oil on Canvas, Embroidery and Pearls on Canvas
"Homegrown" - Oil on Canvas, Embroidery on Canvas
"Hopscotch" - Oil on Canvas
"Jubilant" - Oil on Canvas, Embroidery and Pearls on Canvas
"Ladylike" - Oil on Canvas
"Pinstripes" - Oil on Canvas
"Stargazer" - Oil on Canvas, Embroidery and Pearls on Canvas
"Wallflower" - Oil on Canvas, Embroidery on Canvas
Artist Statement:
I am fascinated by how a generation translates itself visually. Through this series, I explored the relationship between the individual and the generation by examining the fashion trends of the 1960s. In many ways, fashion is a visual manifestation of a generation’s worldview. Rather than being solely composed of trends and brands, a generation’s style acts as a sort of uniform: something made for people with a united purpose. When used effectively, style can be a tool to empower while also building an army to advocate for social change. This concept is what inspired me to specifically look at American fashion of the 1960s. I was initially drawn to this era because of the many parallels between today and the 1960s. Just like today, the sixties were a time of societal change and political turmoil. This was manifested through this generation’s style. Renouncing the domestic female ideal embodied by 1950s style, the sixties were known for the “single-girl” look, which presented a woman who was young, driven, and self-sufficient. However, while sixties fashion was successful at advocating for social change on a wide scale, in many ways it also de-emphasized the power of the individual. Although its version of the “model woman” was empowering relative to the decade prior, it still remained exclusive. Prominent figures in the fashion industry (i.e. Twiggy and Mary Quant) established a beauty standard that was overwhelmingly thin and white. This remains a problem to this day. Although we seldom feel tied to the restrictive style norms of the past, the vast majority of people still aren’t represented by the media ideal. Thus, I challenged this standard by making all of my subjects dissimilar. The variety of women depicted is symbolic of how diversity should be the ideal. By combining the imagery from the 1960s with a depiction of varied individuals, the series establishes a standard for the fashion industry. The comradery created with fashion mustn’t undermine individual voices. Although we should continue to use style as a tool for unity, this cannot come at the expense of diversity.
