Room 2

Dominique Rey

Selling venus/Vénus au miroir

EXHIBITION /
MAY 5 TO JUN 18, 2005

The young Manitoba artist Dominique Rey is interested in the representation of women. Since 2001, Rey has created several photographic series in which, picturing both herself and women from varous milieux, she explores the dichotomous relationship between image and identity. The photographs presented at CLARK are taken from an important series, Selling Venus/Vénus au miroir, created by the artist in a South Carolina striptease club. She photographed the erotic dancers in the intimacy of their dressing room at the very moment where, alone with themselves, they prepare for the game of seduction awaiting them on stage, when they turn themselves over to the gaze of the other.

These portraits seek to unveil, the artist stresses “the illusions and stereotypes while reactualizing the debate about women in oppressive roles.” Captured in the reflection of a glance, the pictures show women absorbed by their image, observing themselves, putting on makeup, and fixing their hair with scant attention to the presence of the photographer. In a play of glances and diverted attention, Rey suggests a representation of these women that is different from that of the simple reflection of male desire by emphasizing this more interior gaze, filled with hope and ambition.

Selling Venus/Vénus au miroir, finds its origin in the artist's personal experience as a stripper in a club in Osaka, Japan. In this context, she took her first photographs revealing the ritual of physical and psychological transformation these workers practice every day, a ritual meant not only to prepare a game of charm and seduction, but also to adorn oneself in a protective suit.

NdeB. translated by PduB.

Dominique Rey holds a Bachelor's of Visual Arts degree from the University of Manitoba (1999). She is enrolled in the MFA program at Bard College, New York. Among other places, she has presented solo exhibitions at Gallery One One One (Winnipeg) and at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain (Winnipeg) in 2002. Selling Venus/Vénus au miroir was also presented at the Plug In ICA and at La Maison des artistes in Winnipeg in 2005.