Cornelia Parker’s exhibition (2022) highlighted the hidden beauty in everyday objects, which I think will have a profound impact on how I view common objects going forward. This concept sent me into a reflection to understand why I felt that it is so important to notice the little details. Viewing this exhibition also gave me a sensation of admiration for Parker as an artist, especially upon entering the exhibition and seeing the installation of Thirty Pieces of Silver, which truly embodies this idea of creating striking art from objects we are familiar with.
The piece of work which I was drawn towards the most within the exhibition was the War Room. Parker’s use of space and light within this installation compelled me to walk in and take in the striking view. I particularly found Parker’s use of repurposing the offcuts of the material used to create the annual poppies really meaningful. Having come from a background in fashion, which is an industry which produces alarmingly high amount of waste through fabric offcuts, I loved how such striking art could be produced from these waste materials.
“The fact that the poppies are absent is poignant, because obviously a lot of people didn’t come back from the First World War, and other wars since”
(Parker, 2022)
On reflection, this exhibition helped me to understand the beauty within ordinary objects. Most people, including myself, would not typically see these items as she does, and would not think to create such striking works of art. To me this is what made this exhibition so unique and memorable.
References
Parker, C. (2022) Cornelia Parker [Exhibition]. Tate Britiain. 19 May – 16 October 2022.
Cornelia Parker (2022) Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/cornelia-parker (Accessed: 12 October 2022).
Image 1 – Parker, C. (1998-9) Thirty Pieces of Silver [Installation]. Tate Britain (Viewed: 4 October 2022).
Image 2 – Parker, C. (2015) War Room [Installation]. Tate Britain (Viewed: 4 October 2022).