Dystopia Collage Series
DIGITAL COLLAGE / MONTAGE, IMAGE MANIPULATION
DYSTOPIA SERIES
Image above: Kim Kardashian as The Fair Maiden (2020). Edited in Adobe Photoshop by Heather Waterfield. Original painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, Florinda (1852).
The Dystopia Series by Heather Waterfield addresses a number of societal issues spanning a variety of topics, with the theme of overconsumption in contemporary society and human behaviour.
THE OVERCONSUMPTION OF BEAUTY
In Kim Kardashian as The Fair Maiden (Image above), the original subject (Florinda) has been replaced by Kim Kardashian to draw attention to the modern day representation of the ‘beautiful woman’ and it’s power in our society. The piece aims to highlight the contrast between then (1800s) and now (2020), how much Western society has changed since the time it was painted in 1852.
The original painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, Florinda, once spent time in the company of royalty, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The project encourages reflection on the negative effects of overconsumption, celebrity idolatry, the overvaluation of exterior beauty and the pursuit of cosmetic perfection.
RESEARCH
It’s evident across history and art that human beings have always been obsessed with image, especially the female form. Classical paintings and images throughout history depict the perfect woman, the fair maiden, the siren. These designs address this concept, attempting to subvert and redefine the original meaning of historical artworks by integrating contemporary figures within historical contexts.
Through fame, media and riches, celebrity figures like the Kardashians, have taken a place and status akin to what once belonged to those depicted in classical paintings. The popularity of people like the Kardashians and the rise of Kardashian-alikes reflects the state of our society and values, symbolising of the commodification of beauty and image which continues to feed and contribute towards the unrealistic beauty expectations that have resulted in the rise in plastic surgery, body dysmorphia and eating disorders, and even suicide in young people.
Kylie Jenner with the head of her past self (image below) aims to highlight the absurdity of the Plastic Surgery industry, and the unhealthy emphases placed on beauty and appearances in Western society.
Kylie Jenner with the head of her past self (before plastic surgery) (2020). Original painting by Cristofano Allori, Judith with the Head of Holophernes (1613). All edited and designed in Adobe Photoshop by Heather Waterfield.
Kim Kardashian as Lady Lilith (2020). Original painting by Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Lady Lilith (1866-68).
Kim as Jesus in The Last Supper
Yes, Men View Women as Sex Objects (Kim Kardaashian)(2020).Original painting by Édouard Manet, The Luncheon on the Grass (Le déjeuner sur l’herbe) (1863).
Men must say no to sexism, inequality and abuse (2020). Original painting by Théodore Chassériau, Suzanne et les vieillards (Suzanne and the Elders) (1856).
OVERCONSUMPTION OF INTELLIGENCE
This project reimagines and subverts contemporary culture, addressing various societal issues, but largely the potential dystopian consequences of greed and endless unsustainable hunger for beauty and intelligence in Western society. These traditional, classical paintings have been modified to comment on issues surrounding the effects of overconsumption, to encourage reflection on the inevitable damage we are causing to ourselves and the planet. These works address intellectual and technological greed, a reaction to the fact AI (Artificial Intelligence) is being implemented into and used to track and archive our lives more and more, without our knowledge or control.
‘Some fear a future where humans are the ants beneath the boots of super Intelligent AI’ is based on the theory by philosopher Sam Harris (2016), that AI will continue to be developed despite our terrifying lack of knowledge of the societal consequences of these advancements.
‘Is your favourite influencer even real?’ is a combination of our hunger for beauty and technology, the two figures at the top of the image are AI influencers. The fact that these AI are being given fake personas as if they are real influencers is an unsettling concept to me on many levels. At the end of 2019 AI influencer Lil Miquela had 1.8 Million followers
on Instagram, in summer 2021 she/it had 3 million. This artificial figure continues to gain popularity, I wonder, are young girls aspiring to look like her? If her followers know she isn’t real, they don’t seem to care. Lil Miquela even has a music video where the AI stands beside real people. This seems to me like the closest we’ve come to AI being integrated into real life and passed off as human almost seamlessly.
This project is born from a concern that in a post-truth world of fake news, plastic-surgery and AI, it no longer seems to matter if something is real or fake, truth or a lie, authentic or inauthentic, in order to
be consumed on mass. With beauty now extending to artificial/AI standards, these designs question the long-term effects of introducing more role-models like Lil Miquela into the social media feeds of highly impressionable young girls - in an already comparison obsessed world.
Overconsumption is Costing Us the Earth - Landfill (2020). Edited in Adobe Photoshop by Heather Waterfield. Original painting by Frederic Edwin Church, The Heart of the Andes (1859).
To Dye for: Textile Processing’s Global Impact (2020). Edited in Adobe Photoshop by Heather Waterfield. Original painting by John William Waterhouse, The Lady of Shalott (Le déjeuner sur l’herbe) (1888).
Stop Men Dying Too Young (2020). Edited in Adobe Photoshop by Heather Waterfield. Original painting by Henry Wallace, Chatterton (1856). Text from a Movember advert.