Marcus Harvey

This years research

This years work has been based on the theme of identity and haw important it is, and the way that identity can change after traumas. This topic of identity is very important to me as trauma's in my pas thane made me who i am today. Most of the work i have looked at i have linked to a more in depth, dark view of the work, for example the work done by Marcus Harvey.

Myra Hindley, Marcus Harvey

Myra Hindley's infamous and widely recognized 1965 mug shot has become something of a cultural icon and has been spoofed in a variety of humorous and satirical contexts, most notably by punk graphic designer, Jamie Reid. In the late 1970s, Reid produced a silkscreen design of the familiar Hindley photograph (à la Warhol's Marilyn) and adorned it with the caption "God Save Myra Hindley" in ransom-note lettering. The image was featured as a poster in the punk movie, The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980). However, the biggest media controversy was over Myra, an image of the murderer Myra Hindley by Marcus Harvey. Winnie Johnson, the mother of one of Hindley's victims, asked for the portrait, made up of hundreds of copies of a child's handprint, to be excluded to protect her feelings. Along with supporters she picketed the show's first day. Even Myra Hindley, herself, sent a letter from jail suggesting her portrait be removed from the exhibition, reasoning that such action was necessary because the work was “a sole disregard not only for the emotional pain and trauma that would inevitably be experienced by the families of the Moors victims but also the families of any child victim.” Despite all the protest the painting remained hanging. Windows at Burlington House, the Academy's home, were smashed and two demonstrators hurled ink and eggs at the picture as a result, requiring it to be removed and restored. It was put back on display behind Perspex and guarded by security men.In my opinion the artwork on Myra done by Marcus Harvey is an exceptional piece of work. It is all about one thing, creating the sense of disgust in the viewer, that such a hated face should be displayed as art in a gallery. This piece of work amazes me in the way that Marcus Harvey has used children's handprints to create the face of a “monster”, I think its brilliant. He has created not only an image but he has also involved the women’s crime in his work. Instead of a women being seen as a motherly figure, someone who is warm and gentle, Myra is seen as a gloomy, fearful women, its straight to the point.

I then chose to use photoshop to create sevarl different handprints.