Deborah Forbes
Shadow Princesses
April 21–May 19, 2007

Deborah Forbes’ exhibition Shadow Princesses is a multi-media installation, which investigates the historical and cross-cultural function of the image of ‘princess’, citing the enduring fascination with images and ideas of little ‘princesses’ as portrayed in the historical painting Infanta Margarita by Diego Velázquez and JonBenet Ramsay, a contemporary counterpart. Through morphed layers of the projected images, shadows and reflections, Forbes presents a discourse on femininity, beauty and the staying power of the ‘princess’ icon in contemporary culture.

“The room is dark: as we move towards and between the draped hangings, our own shadows play with the frozen images of JonBenet Ramsay and Velázquez’s Infanta Margarita, which sway and drift in currents of air. A girlish figure, laser cut from a thick steel sheet, casts a small but knife-edged shadow, which grows softer, more amorphous and expansive as it appears on veil after veil. A trill of childish laughter, followed by the gentle sounds of water, grass rustling and fire’s light crackling insinuate themselves into the quiet space, while projected imagery of the serene natural elements flicker, looping endlessly over the tragic princesses.”

Deborah Forbes would like to thank Jill Timushka for steel management, Rory Mahony for sound and video, Hannah for her shadows and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for its generous support.