Untitled #263 1992

Cindy Sherman made this photograph with props and prosthetic body parts, and some kind of backdrop. It's a still life, but instead of fruit, it’s these weird fake body parts. The surface is really intriguing; it’s a photograph, so it's ostensibly smooth, but you can tell there is a lot of texture on those fake legs and torsos. The hair, the skin, and even the cloth all have this tactile quality. It makes you feel like you could reach out and touch it, even though you can’t. Your eye kind of caresses the image in a way. There’s a lot of detail to take in. I find it interesting that she’s using these doll-like body parts. It reminds me a little bit of Hans Bellmer, who was using these kind of mannequin bodies to explore ideas about sexuality and the body. But with Sherman, I think it’s more about these constructed identities, and the way we present ourselves to the world. The fact that it's kind of grotesque is also part of the point. Art is not about perfection; it's about embracing the weirdness and the messiness of life.