Institutions are cyclictic and bound to be flawed. Yet they are embedded into our cultural & social values in a way in which they can never be erased. I considered how marriage masquerades as forever and a day because in my experience, tying the knot seems to only ever be done very loosely.
Here are some of my initial findings into the definition of marriage;
I came across two books whilst helping my grandmother reorganise her collection: Here is the first page of a book entitled Love and Fulfilment in Woman.
“In the vault of the vagina”
The way in which Lamare wrote about women shocked me. I found myself feeling repulsed by the audacious nature of his writing which went about outlining his ‘scientific’ findings on female pleasure. I considered how the institution of marriage, the sacred union of woman and man, reinforces inequality within it.
As I read on however, it seemed as if I was being seduced by his way of thinking, his prose became more romanticised and I felt touched. “Woman in his eyes is a vain being, a medley of inconsistencies and aberrations, an incomprehensible creature, stupid to a greater or lesser extent, and well designed to be dominated shamelessly.” I began to realise that this here is essentially a hand book for husbands. Encouraging them to avoid what Lamare describes as a selfish, lazy cowardice. Advocating men to respond to their duty! To understand feminine behaviour! In short I don’t know how I feel about this book. It just intrigues me that a man could write this sort of material on female sexual pleasure. Further more, I see how the perceptions of women in & out of marriage that has changed in the turning of the century.
Eichenlaub J, E, The Marriage Art, Dell Publishing Co., INC, New York
The second text was definitely marketed as a handbook, its a step by step guide to a happy marriage; focusing on what happens in the ‘bedroom’. It’s dedicated to his wife, Betty, whom he goes on to say deserves much of the credit for the ideas written in the book and has eared the gratitude of anyone who may benefit from reading it.
“This book exists because I see the married couple an ongoing team, as the biologic unit which transcends the identity of either husband or wife, and as the main well-spring of life’s gratifications”
I find these to be relevant because both texts urged me to reevaluate my cynical judgement of the institute of marriage. I wanted to challenge the institution of marriage and really pick apart its false dedication to infinity. But now I will say, what better to represent eternity than to do so using a ring? Below is both my intrigue and interrogation into an institution I may have got all wrong.
Rings, 2021, 3D rendered pencil drawing.
Rings, when duplicated & layered soon resembled something more internal, it ossified into my studio practice like a bone structure. Click here for the blog post relating to my photoshop exploration and progression.
CONNIE HOPE 