Untitled #198 1989

Cindy Sherman made this photograph, Untitled #198, with color film and probably a medium format camera; it’s all about the alchemy of how things look, and the weirdness of identity. The first thing I noticed is the face covering. It’s totally blocking our view and making me think about obstruction, and concealment. The mask is made of feathers, suggesting masquerade, and softening the features of the sitter. The backdrop also suggests disguise; it’s patterned and busy, clashing with the other elements, yet somehow harmonizing to create this unsettling and deeply theatrical image. For me, Sherman's work is always about the performance of the self, the artifice of identity. Think about artists like Sarah Lucas, who play with their identity by representing themselves in their own work. Sherman has created a piece that lingers in the mind, opening a space of imagination that suggests art is an ongoing conversation, embracing ambiguity.