Beyond the Pleasure Principle by  Sarah Lucas

Beyond the Pleasure Principle 2000

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Dimensions: 1560 x 1905 x 2900 mm Variable

Copyright: © Sarah Lucas | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate

Editor: This is Sarah Lucas’s "Beyond the Pleasure Principle." It's quite striking, with the juxtaposition of soft materials and harsh lighting. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The assembly immediately presents a stark, somewhat unsettling tableau. Consider the formal arrangement: the harsh geometry of the frame, the soft curves of the fabric, and the scattered light bulbs. How do these elements interact spatially, and what visual tensions do they create? Editor: The bright red fabric really stands out against the bare lightbulbs. Curator: Indeed. Lucas often manipulates familiar objects and materials to create new meanings. We can observe the interplay of form and texture, and explore the possible semiotic implications. What might those be, in your opinion? Editor: I think it highlights the contrast between vulnerability and artificiality. Curator: Precisely. By understanding the formal vocabulary, we gain a deeper appreciation for the artist's intent and the artwork's conceptual depth.

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tate 2 days ago

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/lucas-beyond-the-pleasure-principle-t07820

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tate 2 days ago

Lucas''s bawdy humour takes a darker turn in this work. She uses a variety of household objects to produce a witty metaphor for sexual activity. However, the comic references contrast with the sobering presence of a cardboard coffin. The title refers to a seminal text by the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. He suggested that the drive for life is matched by an equal and opposite drive for death, so that pleasure is bound up with destruction. Gallery label, May 2002