by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper Collage
27.9 x 38cm
2016
Unique
Carmella
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
27cm x 33.5cm
2015
Hampton
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
2016
Sophie
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
22.5 x 39.5cm
2016
Unique
Madeleine
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
27cm x 33.5cm
2015
Jean
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
25.5cmx37cm
2015
Boscobel House
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper Collage
22 x 28cm
2016
Unique
Adena
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
20 x 26.5cm
2016
Unique
Simone
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper Collage
21x29cm
2015
Unique
Holly Hill
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
2016
Brigitte
Photo Collage
(Commissioned by Hotel Cafe Royal, London)
2018
Rond-Point Bugeaud
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
27cmx33.5cm
2015
Sheraton
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
22 x 28cm
2016
Unique
Rue Madamoiselle
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
22cmx42cm
2015
The Beehive House
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper Collage
20.9 x 26.6cm
Unique
2016
Strawberry Mansion
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
22x28cm
Paper Collage
2016
Unique
Elizabeth
Photo Collage (Commissioned by Hotel Cafe Royal, London).
2018
HeadTeller
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
23cmx38cm
2015
Lizbeth
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
17 x 23.5cm
2015
Love Lane
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
22cmx34cm
2015
Love Lane (II)
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
22cmx38cm
2015
Unique
Love Lane III
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
22cmx38cm
2015
Jardin des Poets
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
27cmx33.5cm
2015
Audrey
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
22cmx26cm
2015
Marissa Dress
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
27cmx33.5cm
2015
Matriarch
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
27cmx33.5cm
2015
Rue Flaneurette
by CLAIRE PESTAILLE
Paper collage
Unique
18cmx29cm
2015
Femme Maison
My inspiration for this series of work was a drawing by Louise Bourgeois titled Femme Maison. Ive always found her work inspirational especially her interest in psychoanalysis and how it influenced her art.
The Femme Maison (1946-47) paintings by Louise Borgoise touch upon the problem of identity for women. Here, the heads of nude female figures have been replaced by architectural forms, resulting in a symbolic condensation of the conflict between domestic and sexual roles. For Bourgeois architecture symbolized the social world that attempts to define the individual, in contrast to the inner world of emotion. The tension between figure and architecture mirrors the dichotomy between mind and body. Bourgeois suffered from agoraphobia, and often withdrew into her house for protection. Yet, as Bourgeois wrote, “the security of the lair can also become a trap.”
Borgoise’s paintings accentuated the problems with female identity in the 40’s and 50’s whereby the social architecture of the house was used to mask and almost suffocate the emotional/personal identity. In my series I was interested in how architecture in the present day defines women. The head of the house hold, the owner of the house, the businesswoman, the manager, the CEO. Women’s roles have dramatically altered since the 40’s and this is reflected in the architecture and the mask that is worn.
Whilst creating these new works, I also looked at haute couture, corset design and the works of Lee Bowery and Alexander McQueen. My question was how can I make these buildings wearable, mask-like, skin-like by adopting the mechanics of fashion.