Cosey and Art; Part III
Posted by Rob
“Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English”
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
Finding her niche in photography, Cosey has upgraded her camera equipment from a bulky Fisher Price body to the new streamlined Barbie digital camera setup. Similar to the trendy Canon users, she has fallen into using name-brand consumer equipment. It is only assumed that, like the Canon users, she thinks that if she has the ‘cool’ camera setup then she will take better pictures. Ignoring evidence that the less expensive Nikon and Pentax users actually do have better results, she believes that image is everything; typical for a adolescent. (thus confirming Canon = wannabe)
Below are the shots from her recent show entitled “Home Life” where Cosey shows us her exposae on the inhumane treatment a artist like herself has to endure in a dictatorship environment. It is daring and rebellious venture into her freedom of expression where thoughts of this nature in other countries would mean your execution… or at least a time-out. (see her previous work at Part one and Part two)
Here Cosey expertly captures a moment of rebellion by a unknown citizen (presumeably a sibling) who is tempting fate by walking on the newly seeded lawn of the dictator’s palace, despite being told to stay off it. Knowing that this little girl’s life was in the balance she lowered the frame of her shot so not to reveal her identity.
Knowing it would cause him public embarrassment, Cosey snuck into the Dictator’s bedroom on a Saturday morning to expose his habit of sleeping in. Knowing that he had work around the house to do, this photograph showed a side of him which Cosey considers “lazy-butt”. Blurred motion in the picture is observed due to the fact that the camera operation woke the Dictator. She barley escaped with her life.
“Unfulfilled Obligations”
Cosey bashes the strict government by letting them know that her laundry has not been put away for 2 days and she is running out of clothes to wear. In a surprising move the Government struck back by now forcing her to put away her own laundry. She feels this is cruel and unusual punishment for just giving them a “gentle” reminder.
After being told that she would not receive a dessert until dinner was completed, Cosey documented that she indeed had finished her rationed supper and demanded that her due dessert be given. It was Cosey’s hope that others could sympathize with her mistreatment of waiting until the government finished their dinners before dessert was served. Truly a horrible status quo.
Cosey shows how the lower class are treated in this image of her and a sibling having to hunt themselves for nourishment by locating hidden multi-colored egg shaped canisters of chocolate in the back yard. Although this treatment only occurs once a year, she believes it is only for the enjoyment of the government and does not know why the candy is not just given directly to her.






April 24th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I LOVE these! I can’t believe how big the girls are! Hopefully Dave and I will make it back to CVPC soon to see everyone.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:28 am
We would love to see you guys again.. stop by one Sunday.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Nice work! Sadly, the critic clearly has no understanding of the artist. Cosey’s work will one day receive the credit it deserves.
In other news…the blog loads quite nicely on my new Blackberry phone.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:39 am
oh, how i love these art installments.