Valie Export. Identity Transfer 1. 1968

Valie Export Identity Transfer 1 1968

  • Not on view

In 1967, in a radical gesture, the artist VALIE EXPORT shed both her father’s and husband’s names to take on a new identity, simultaneously announcing her presence on the art scene. A similar act of provocation is at the root of four iconic portraits titled Identity Transfer, which show the artist impersonating a pimp, dressed in tight black trousers, a curly, short–haired wig, heavy gold necklaces and bracelets, and exaggerated makeup. The resulting images call into question conventional gender roles and reflect a moment in history when male and female clothing and hairstyles merged.

Gallery label from XL: 19 New Acquisitions in Photography, May 10, 2013–January 6, 2014.
Medium
Gelatin silver print (selenium toned), printed 2011
Dimensions
9 1/4 × 6 5/16" (23.5 × 16 cm)
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the Ronald and Jo Carole Lauder Foundation
Object number
867.2011
Copyright
© 2021 VALIE EXPORT / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VBK, Austria
Department
Photography

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