1960’s Swinging London: Allen Jones, Mary Quant & Feminism In the 1960’s, London, England was thriving with a new style of art, fashion, music, photography and much more. After World War II, a recuperating London found itself fixated on the glamorous consumerism in the West. The Pop Art Movement sparked a new interest in cheap artistic mediums that portray elements of Western popular culture. Artist Allen Jones and fashion designer Mary Quant prove to be two significant figures at the height of the British Pop Art Movement. These two artists also drew influence from the concurrent Women’s Rights and feminist movement in their portrayals of women. Allen Jones, born in Southampton on September 1st, 1937, became one of the most identifiable
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In this painting, the viewer sees both the man and woman being stripped of their identities in the name of sexuality. The man lack an identity because he represents the male population’s obsession with objectifying women. The female lacks identifiers to accentuate her as the unrealistic prototype of a woman. Jones was highly influenced by U.S pop culture and consumerism. This painting and many of his others have an essence of advertisement. He was also inspired by the fetishism, eroticism and danger in sexual images. In an interview Jones claimed, “fetishism and the transgressive world produced images that I liked because they were dangerous. They were about personal obsessions. They suggested new ways of depicting the figure that weren't dressed up for public consumption.” His art featured key components of pop art, according to Hamilton, including sexy, glamorous, young and colorful details. Throughout Jones’ expansive body of work, the viewer can trace themes of accentuated female body parts and the synonymity of the female body and their …show more content…
His work reflects the unfortunate yet realistic mentality of men in order to critique society’s treatment of women. Despite these feminist proclamations, Jones became infamous for the erotic sculptures. Jones is quoted as minimizing his blemished reputation as “collateral damage” in the artistic journey. Allen Jones remains a prolific contemporary artist at the age eighty. Following Hatstand, Table and Chair, Jones crafted many more sculptures, often in the likeness of performers and entertainers. His more recent outdoor exhibits expand to feature his new steel-made sculptures of inter-twining figures. His classic piece, Chair, and over fifty other works have been on display at the Tate in London since 2014. Additionally, in November of 2014 the Royal Academy of Arts in London opened a retrospective exhibit held until January of 2015. Another artist of the 1960’s Swinging London era, whose work incorporated the ideals of the feminist movement is fashion designer Mary Quant. Barbara Mary Quant was born February 11th, 1934 in Blackheath, London. She went on to study illustration at Goldsmiths College and graduated with a diploma in art education. Quant soon met her future husband and business
In this painting, the viewer sees both the man and woman being stripped of their identities in the name of sexuality. The man lack an identity because he represents the male population’s obsession with objectifying women. The female lacks identifiers to accentuate her as the unrealistic prototype of a woman. Jones was highly influenced by U.S pop culture and consumerism. This painting and many of his others have an essence of advertisement. He was also inspired by the fetishism, eroticism and danger in sexual images. In an interview Jones claimed, “fetishism and the transgressive world produced images that I liked because they were dangerous. They were about personal obsessions. They suggested new ways of depicting the figure that weren't dressed up for public consumption.” His art featured key components of pop art, according to Hamilton, including sexy, glamorous, young and colorful details. Throughout Jones’ expansive body of work, the viewer can trace themes of accentuated female body parts and the synonymity of the female body and their …show more content…
His work reflects the unfortunate yet realistic mentality of men in order to critique society’s treatment of women. Despite these feminist proclamations, Jones became infamous for the erotic sculptures. Jones is quoted as minimizing his blemished reputation as “collateral damage” in the artistic journey. Allen Jones remains a prolific contemporary artist at the age eighty. Following Hatstand, Table and Chair, Jones crafted many more sculptures, often in the likeness of performers and entertainers. His more recent outdoor exhibits expand to feature his new steel-made sculptures of inter-twining figures. His classic piece, Chair, and over fifty other works have been on display at the Tate in London since 2014. Additionally, in November of 2014 the Royal Academy of Arts in London opened a retrospective exhibit held until January of 2015. Another artist of the 1960’s Swinging London era, whose work incorporated the ideals of the feminist movement is fashion designer Mary Quant. Barbara Mary Quant was born February 11th, 1934 in Blackheath, London. She went on to study illustration at Goldsmiths College and graduated with a diploma in art education. Quant soon met her future husband and business