Ms. Frankenstein

September 17, 1993
Performance Art

About the Program

Ms. Frankenstein is a short, non-glamorous performance about the body, science, and ethics. It is largely imagistic, and the focus of the activity is the hook-up and demonstration of a revolutionary machine called "The Relax-a-cisor." This machine was manufactured in the United States in the 1950s and was sold to women for home use. I forgot to mention that it is an electrical device. To me, this machine conjures up many terrifying thoughts, which I have played out with humour in the piece. There is also a wealth of statistical information which I have gleaned from a variety of feminist texts such as The Beauty Myth, Face Value, and books on plastic surgery. In Ms. Frankenstein, I attempt to involve the viewers by forcing them publicly acknowledge their own perceptions of their bodily imperfections. The question is, how far are you prepared to get rid of them.

Artist

Tanya Mars

Performer

Margaret Dragu

Identifier

1993.0917 MSF

Part of the series

Queer City: The Queer Series and The Two Spirit Series

Collection

grunt gallery Programming Archive

Location

Western Front
303 E. 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 1S1
Unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ/selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations

In copyright. For uses beyond Fair Dealing, research requests, corrections, takedown requests, or other inquiries, please contact grunt gallery: archives@grunt.ca