Isn’t it Ironic?
This was a quilt that I created for the exhibition ‘Isn’t it Ironic?’ (2023). I named it cruelty, this entire piece is a play with cruel irony. The quilt is a full sized one, it would fit a queen bed. It is constructed just like any normal quilt is, yet it extolls such miserable intentions. It wishes for and receives death. This piece is designed to be an object in which both states coexist, a place where comfort and discomfort both live.
This piece took a lot out of me to make. I don’t have the set up to make something so large and so it took its toll. I was inspired by Sylvia Plath and the Smiths and it made me very miserable to make it. Very ironic indeed.
‘Cruelty’ 2023, textiles, 201 x 202 cm
Curatorial Statement:
It’s like rain on your wedding day
It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid
It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take
And who would’ve thought… it figures
– Alanis Morissette
In a world that often feels paradoxical and contradictory, irony offers a way to make sense of the complexities of contemporary life. The Sawtooth ARI artists in this exhibition use irony to subvert expectations and reveal the contradictions that exist within our society, culture, and politics. Through their works, they invite us to question our assumptions and consider new perspectives, often through a lens of humor or playfulness.
Whether it’s the use of irony to critique consumer culture, challenge gender norms, or comment on the state of our political climate, the works in “Isn’t it Ironic” demonstrate the power of art to provoke critical reflection and engage viewers in a dialogue about the world around us. Through their use of irony, these artists offer a way to make sense of the contradictions and complexities of contemporary life, inviting us to see the world in a new light.
(This text has been generated via collaboration between curator Zara Sully and chatGPT)
Artists: Anna Barber, Ben Barwick, Clara Martin, Olly Read, & Anonymous.
“Cruelty, a massive quilt made by Clara Martin is probably my favourite work here: it does something really simple, balancing a dark textual aphorism with the comfort of a well made item to keep one warm and comfortable in a frightening world: come, comfort yourself with terror it seems to suggest. The clarity here is relieving in a way”
-Andrew Harper, ‘Oh the irony of it All’, Mercury Newspaper, 3/4 June 2023
See the exhibition here
All images by Zara Sully
Special thanks to Clarence Arts & Events