Ghada Amer – Color Misbehavior

Posted by The G on May 22, 2010 under Artsy Fartsy | Read the First Comment

Photos by G.  Art by Ghada Amer.

When I first laid eyes on Egyptian artist Ghada Amer’s  latest exhibition, Color Misbehavior at the Cheim and Read Gallery in New York, I was immediately impressed with the intricate embroidery of her works.  As I moved closer to each piece, I was moved by the juxtaposition of oppression and sexual freedom.  Underneath the seemingly haphazard sparseness of the embroidery, a deeper message is revealed:  images of beautiful women, often engaged in sex acts.  I love that Ghada Amer’s work turns the tables on traditional sexual norms, especially as it is a vast departure from the upbringing she had in the Muslim culture.  After the jump, see closeups of her work and when you do, I think you’ll enjoy these canvases as much as I do.  There’s nudity in one of the paintings, so if you have a closed-mind, don’t read any further.  Color Misbehavior runs now through June 19, 2010 at the Cheim and Read Gallery in New York (on 547 West 25th Street).