Shows: The Museum of Historical Makeovers | Kathy Aoki at Swarm Gallery

Kathy Aoki, The Brazilian (2009), Solar-plate etching

Creating a pseudo-museum experience, Aoki presents us with imagery that looks antique, but addresses current beauty and pop culture concepts. In this museum, which is based in 3011, there are two galleries that present archeological finds from the early 21st Century. Gallery One presents remnants from the reign of pop culture icon Gwen Stefani. Excavated from the Los Angeles area (now underwater), the archives include a personal Cartouche for the singer, Canopic jars representing her clothing line, her ex-fiance and band member Tony Kanal, and her music. Also on display is a flash drive that contains an antiquated sketch for Stefani’s Harujuku Lovers perfume line. The artist-created file actually exists on the flash drive, which is sold as a print-out with the piece (see image below).

Aoki states, “I want the artwork to help explain why we are so obsessed with beauty and pop consumerism. Obviously (from these mock documents), it’s been that way traditionally throughout history.”

Aoki’s French drawings have the look of illustrations from French philosopher Diderot’s Encyclopèdie ou Dictionnaire raisonnè des sciences, des arts et des mètiers, a mid-eighteenth century multi-volume publication which attempted to explain everything. In fact, Aoki implies that the drawings, which feature beauty processes such as lip-plumping and lower back tattooing may have been intended to be part of Diderot’s publication, but were lost – only to be discovered over a thousand years later and acquired by the Museum of Historical Makeovers.

In her own artistic makeover, Aoki creates hand-printed etchings after famous surgical paintings by Eakins and Rembrandt. The scenes, drawn with crosshatching and aquatint grays, depict preposterous beauty procedures such as the Brazilian waxing method.

Kathy Aoki, Les Leves Cendrillon (Cinderella Lips) (2009), Monotype with ink and water

Kathy Aoki, Les Leves Cendrillon (Cinderella Lips) (2009), Monotype with ink and water

Kathy Aoki, La Tatouage Bas du Dos (2009), Ink and wash

Kathy Aoki, La Tatouage Bas du Dos (2009), Ink and wash

Kathy Aoki, The Anal Bleaching Lesson (2009), Solar plate etching

Kathy Aoki, The Anal Bleaching Lesson (2009), Solar plate etching

One of the most creative installations in Aoki’s museum is the archeological “discovery” of the Egyptian style burial tombs of Gwen Stefani and the Harajuku girls. Aoki elevates Stefani’s status to pharaoh; false artifacts, such as alabaster coasters and “stone” tablets, are covered with custom hieroglyphics. Aoki even goes so far as to provide educational guides that explain the symbols on the “artifacts” and provides analysis of the Stefani cartouche. The Stefani archeological installation also features a mini-tomb room, where viewers can peek in to see the Stefani sarcophagus. All of the museum labeling, maps and objects poke fun at pop culture and beauty consumerism.

Kathy Aoki, Untitled (Gwen Stefani cartouche), Red oak with mixed media and composite feuille d'or

Kathy Aoki, Untitled (Gwen Stefani cartouche), Red oak with mixed media and composite feuille d’or

Kathy Aoki, Closed Tomb Room (Gwen Stefani's sarcophagas), Mixed media

Kathy Aoki, Closed Tomb Room (Gwen Stefani’s sarcophagas), Mixed media

Kathy Aoki, Canopic Jar (2009), Ceramic

Kathy Aoki, Canopic Jar (2009), Ceramic

Kathy Aoki, Flash Drive (2009), Found object

Kathy Aoki, Flash Drive (2009), Found object

The exhibition comes with a cell phone tour of the Gwen Stefani gallery in “The Museum of Historical Makeovers.” You may call from anywhere to hear the hilarious commentary on this work: 1-888-802-3255 and dial extensions 101, 102, 103, 104, or 105

A Curator’s Talk will be led by the artist on Wednesday, October 14, 6:30PM at Swarm Gallery

View all images and information on exhibition: http://www.swarmgallery.com/gallery/exhibitions/KA_Museum_of_Makeovers.htm

Posted by Svea Lin Soll, Director