Chilo Eribenne

The constructed photographic image of the self-destructive female icon is the title of this series as well as my PhD as well as artistic practice. The concept, photographs and silkscreen prints have been created for this research and are available in limited edition and as unique pieces. Contact me, the artist, for sales.

Abstract

My artistic practice is interdisciplinary, integrating expertise in the dramatic arts, musicology, and time-based media. The last 10 years of my practice has gradually shifted towards scientific research which simultaneously incorporates and deepens my artistic practice. My practice is foundational to my research, which has since expanded into other fields of science - specifically astrophysics - focusing on the other self-destructive star: the supernova. The dissertation began as a photographic research into the constructed image of the self-destructive female icon, which was a music, photography and object art installation exhibited at The Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. My research takes an intersectional position, specifically by deconstructing the white, patriarchal theoretical frameworks that have historically dominated the field of art history. I have found that the constructed image of the self-destructive female icon is rooted in rock music, which has its roots in jazz and blues from the turn of the 20th century. This culture was born from Black American Spirituals and the desperation to break free from a life laid out of suffering. This was a turning point in history for all women in Western culture and needs to be emphasised within the dissertation.The implementation of a practice-led research methodology, aligning creative output with scientific investigation is essential to the analytical depth of my proposed PhD. I have defined one facet of the gap in theory by engaging with Georges Bataille’s accursed share. While I engage with art history, the research would benefit from a shift in focus towards visual studies, particularly on the spectacle. Although this work focusses on the constructed photographic image of self-destructive female icons from the 20th century and the technology of its time, I am certain that it is still relevant to today’s contemporary culture.