Gillian Wearing
Joseph Schwartz
Professor Longabucco
Writing II
Final
Gillian Wearing
To understand Gillian Wearing is to understand confession as a means of expression. A true confession leaves the individual completely vulnerable to whoever is privy to the news. Confession is raw. Confession is commonly linked to Christianity, as it is vital to the ideal of sinners being encouraged to admit their wrongdoings in hopes of forgiveness. Because society has largely grouped confession with sin, it has been assigned extremely negative connotations when in fact confession is pure. Confession can be a concerned Catholic yearning for amnesty or an alcoholic at an AA meeting. In an interview with 200% magazine, Wearing discussed her work, ‘Signs’, by admitting, “The process was all about the instant: the instant thought, the image being taken as a snapshot. In most cases I only took one photograph of each person; in some rare cases two. My photography, therefore, was done as quickly as the sign was written” (Interview). Confession can be done by anybody at any time so long as the words are genuine and instant. Wearing is concerned that when someone fears the consequences of confession or if they are given time to consider their words, they may alter their stories and give less than the truth.
Born in a suburban town in England in 1963, Wearing’s work was immensely influenced by a certain British phenomena that she felt constrained the country. In an interview from September 2012, Wearing said that, “it’s kind of part of British society to hold things in. I always think of Britain as being a place where you’re meant to keep your secrets—you should never tell your neighbors or tell anyone” (The Brooklyn Rail). Her fascination with simply communicating with people at a basic level is strewn throughout her photography. This disposition affected Wearing’s art in the sense that, her work is focused on people’s true emotions and how they feel about them. People will do
Professor Longabucco
Writing II
Final
Gillian Wearing
To understand Gillian Wearing is to understand confession as a means of expression. A true confession leaves the individual completely vulnerable to whoever is privy to the news. Confession is raw. Confession is commonly linked to Christianity, as it is vital to the ideal of sinners being encouraged to admit their wrongdoings in hopes of forgiveness. Because society has largely grouped confession with sin, it has been assigned extremely negative connotations when in fact confession is pure. Confession can be a concerned Catholic yearning for amnesty or an alcoholic at an AA meeting. In an interview with 200% magazine, Wearing discussed her work, ‘Signs’, by admitting, “The process was all about the instant: the instant thought, the image being taken as a snapshot. In most cases I only took one photograph of each person; in some rare cases two. My photography, therefore, was done as quickly as the sign was written” (Interview). Confession can be done by anybody at any time so long as the words are genuine and instant. Wearing is concerned that when someone fears the consequences of confession or if they are given time to consider their words, they may alter their stories and give less than the truth.
Born in a suburban town in England in 1963, Wearing’s work was immensely influenced by a certain British phenomena that she felt constrained the country. In an interview from September 2012, Wearing said that, “it’s kind of part of British society to hold things in. I always think of Britain as being a place where you’re meant to keep your secrets—you should never tell your neighbors or tell anyone” (The Brooklyn Rail). Her fascination with simply communicating with people at a basic level is strewn throughout her photography. This disposition affected Wearing’s art in the sense that, her work is focused on people’s true emotions and how they feel about them. People will do
Bibliography: The Brooklyn Rail." GILLIAN WEARING with William Corwin. N.p., n.d. Web. "Gillian Wearing OBE ‘I 'm Desperate ' 1992-3." ' 'I 'm Desperate ' ', Gillian Wearing OBE. N.p., n.d. Web. "Gillian Wearing interview." 200percentmag. N.p., n.d. Web. "Time to Get a Life -- Pioneer Blogger Justin Hall Bows out at 31." SFGate. N.p., n.d.