Maria Richardson

Maria Richardson

Location: Australia

My work focuses on social issues and often addresses what, in the past have been termed "women's" issues. I believe they are problems that harm the whole of society. I use whatever medium I feel best suits the message of any given work. In the past I have utilised spotlighted, abrasive blasted acrylic sheet in several bodies of work. The medium illustrates how society looks right through these issues as if they weren't there. It also allows me the "shine the spotlight" on them to build awareness and create dialogue.


Portfolio:

2006 - Present

My girlfriend doesn't like housework.... “My girlfriend doesn't like housework....”

This piece is part of a body of work entitled "Industry" which investigates the comparative values attributed to paid and unpaid work (domestic work often performed by women who also participate in the paid workforce) in western society.

Cinderella Myth (detail) “Cinderella Myth (detail)”

This piece is part of a body of work entitled "Industry" which investigates the comparative values attributed to paid and unpaid work (work often performed by women who participate in paid work as well). It looks at the "happily ever after" myth of marriage in popular fairy tales.

Close Knit Family (detail) “Close Knit Family (detail)”

This piece is part of a body of work entitled "Industry" which investigates the comparative values attributed to paid and unpaid work (work often performed by women who also participate in paid work). It looks at the physical and emotional energy involved in keeping a family together.

Conformititty “Conformititty”

This piece is part of a body of work entitled "Femininititty" which looks at issues that women must face in the course of modern life. Due to the difficulty in photographing this medium you may need to adjust the angle of your screen to view it to best advantage. I have enjoyed playing with words with this body of work adding an extra syllable to create another dimension to each piece.

Equalititty “Equalititty”

This piece is from a body of work entitled "Femininititty" which looks at issues that women face in modern society. You may need to adjust the angle of your screen to get the best view of this work. I have enjoyed playing with words with these pieces adding an extra syllable to give them another dimension of interest.

Responsibilititty “Responsibilititty”

This piece is part of a body of work entitled "Femininititty" which looks at the issues women face in modern society. You may need to adjust the angle of your screen to properly view this peice. I have enjoyed playing with words in this body of work adding an extra syllable to give another dimension to each of them.

Eve St Cafe “Eve St Cafe”

This installation looks at the darker emotional repercussions of a woman's hormonal cycle.

Eve St Cafe, Storm in a "B" cup “Eve St Cafe, Storm in a "B" cup”

Detail number two of "Eve St Cafe".

The Barbie “The Barbie”

A piece with double meaning. In Australia a barbecue is known colloquially as a "barbie". The piece also utilises Barbie dolls to illustrate western media's objectification of women, reducing them to pieces of meat, stripping them of their humanity.

Wipe on sex appeal “Wipe on sex appeal”

Ilustrates how western media promotes the idea of women as constantly sexually available. I found the box of "pheromone wipes" whilst on holiday in Sydney several years ago. They were in a dispenser in a pub bathroom and I felt compelled to buy them simply because of the sheer ludicrousness of them. I knew I'd be able to use them in an artwork one day!

Same shit, different day. “Same shit, different day.”

A piece that illustrates how incredibly unfulfilling and crushing I found domestic life as a young wife and mother.

A-trophy wife “A-trophy wife”

The first piece in an, as yet unfinished body of work which looks at age old stereotypes of women in a modern context by incorporating a rubber sex doll motif that I have played with throughout certain areas of my work.