Erica Eyres explores identity through 80s-90s ephemera in Winnipeg exhibition
From 26 August to 8 October, Erica Eyres showcases 'Dancing for Dummies' at C'cap – Centre for Cultural and Artist Practices in Winnipeg. This exhibition includes oil portraits, ceramic sculptures, and videos that delve into identity through the lens of 1980s and 1990s consumerism. Originally hailing from Winnipeg and currently based in Glasgow, Eyres incorporates personal memorabilia from her past. Among the five oil portraits, viewers will find expressions of vulnerability and awkwardness. The ceramic pieces feature a signed Hallmark card and an ashtray marked by lipstick. Additionally, the video 'Learning to Dance' presents Eyres in four roles, offering a critique of self-help culture while alluding to Jacques Lacan's 'mirror stage' theory, addressing themes of homage, irony, and empathy in the context of self-optimization.
Key facts
- Exhibition runs 26 August to 8 October 2023
- Features oil portraits, ceramic sculptures, and single-channel videos
- Eyres was born in Winnipeg but lives in Glasgow
- Works reference 1980s-90s consumer culture and self-help movements
- Includes video 'Learning to Dance' with Eyres playing four characters
- References Jacques Lacan's 'mirror stage' theory
- Ceramic works depict Sweet Valley High books and 'For Dummies' manuals
- Examines neoliberal shift of social welfare onto individuals
Entities
Artists
- Erica Eyres
- Jacques Lacan
Institutions
- C'cap – Centre for Cultural and Artist Practices
- Hallmark
- Sweet Valley High
Locations
- Winnipeg
- Canada
- Glasgow
- United Kingdom
- North America