Identity is the way we perceive and express ourselves. It can be altered and changed by personal experiences. Identity is the basis of who we are as humans this can be political beliefs, who we surround ourselves with, the music we listen to and how we dress ourselves.[1] Identity consists of permanent and non-permanent components. Artists tend to explore personal identity as well as social identity through art. Fixated on who we are individuals and collectively as a society.[3]
‘You Stole My Look’ is a work by the English visual artist Georgina Starr. It formed part of a portfolio consisting of eleven prints by London based artists and was published in 1977.[2] The art explores the personal significance attached to clothing. The art was drawn by art and scanned into the computer to form a collage effect within the artwork. Visible in the photo there are five portraits of Starr herself. Each outfit Starr models is unique and different to the next. Reminiscent of a teen magazine the piece explores the sense of identity that can be found in clothing and how crucial teenage years are to developing a sense of self and identity through self-expression.
- n.d. Cultural Identity – Essay | Tate. [online] Available at: <https://www.tate.org.uk/artist-rooms/collection/themes/cultural-identity#:~:text=Artists%20often%20explore%20the%20characteristics,%2C%20race%2C%20nationality%20and%20heritage.> [Accessed 2 February 2021].
- Martin, R., 2015. ‘You Stole my Look’, Georgina Starr, 1997 | Tate. [online] Tate. Available at: <https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/starr-you-stole-my-look-p78084> [Accessed 2 February 2021].
- org. n.d. MoMA | Investigating Identity. [online] Available at: <https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/investigating-identity/> [Accessed 2 February 2021].