Through the use of familiar, though symbolically loaded images from popular culture, Mannall contrives to involve the viewer experientially with her real project...
Sally Mannall
Born 1964, Canberra, ACT
In her playful, but gently instructive installation, Misenchantment, Sally Mannall's consistent theme of gender is explored for fresh insights. Through the use of familiar, though symbolically loaded images from popular culture, Mannall contrives to involve the viewer experientially with her real project – a sharp investigation of the way in which cultural mythology and history construct gender roles in society.
Placed along one side of a corridor, five Topsy Turvy dolls (e.g. Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, Alice in Wonderland) are parallelled by five Mills and Boon novels. Encouraged to twirl the dolls, the viewer discovers "growler" wolves, bears, beasts and frogs ambiguously beneath their skirts. Released, Goldilocks reasserts her upright position.
Ross Wolfe from his Samstag essay, Samstag The First Millenium
1993 Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship
1993 Graduate Diploma, Goldsmiths College, London, UK
1991 Bachelor of Visual Arts, Canberra School of Art, ACT
