mnartists.org: Topher McCulloch

Shari

Topher McCulloch — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:11:24 GMT

My aunt Sharon died from complications of anorexia nervosa when I was 8. It was my first major experience with death, and the experience hit my older sister especially hard. When my mother was preparing to move when I was 20, I found a collection of Shari's things which included a small box of her senior pictures and pictures from her friends. At that age, Shari bore a strong resemblance to my mom and sister, and I felt a connection to the photographs since I'd been exploring themes with my own school photographs as well as gender, body image and sexuality. The use of sewing patterns are meant to suggest the societal pressure of beauty.

Aarhus

Topher McCulloch — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:02:15 GMT

Collage created in response to spending 49 hours in a small airport outside of Aarhus, Denmark due to a terrible snowstorm and the unfortunate consequences of flying a budget airline.

Hermaphro Scouts : On Paper

Topher McCulloch — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 20:07:23 GMT

image: Your New Uniform

image: Another boy may do something better than you...

image: A square yard of material can make many costumes

image: John's personality was almost completely submerged.

image: Special Kick

image: Measure your boy with a yardstick

image: Cheerful.

image: Follow.

Digital Collages

Topher McCulloch — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:58:03 GMT

A series of digital collages dealing with loss, identity, nostalgia, and longing.

image: Kindergarten

image: Leaving Birmingham

image: Venice

image: Photo Album

image: Travelogue

Hermaphro Scouts : Paintings

Topher McCulloch — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:53:26 GMT

This is a series at the start of its development. The Boy and Girl Scouts of the 1950s focused loyalty, obedience, patriotism, and subservience. The organizations have always enforced gender roles bordering on the stereotypical, and their wholesome image persists despite contemporary intolerance of homosexuality. Girl Scouts were encouraged to be thrifty and avoid gossip; Boy Scouts were told to do their best. However, looking to the handbooks of the 50s, a surreal image of the Boy Scouts is painted. Merit badges are earned for organizing parties, helping mom cook dinner and washing dishes. Illustrations of young boys being taught to swim by idealized "supermen" can be read in multiple ways. This body of work aims to combine the two organizations and question what really determines gender and whether it is necessary.

image: Be Square : Female

image: Neckerchief Silhouette

London Unreal

Topher McCulloch — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:18:35 GMT

This series of works is based on lines from T.S. Eliot's [i]The Waste Land[/i].

image: The Underground

image: The Shambles

image: Violet Horizon

Self Portrait as a Thirteen Year Old Girl

Topher McCulloch — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:10:53 GMT

image: Self Portrait as a Thirteen Year Old Girl- Still Life

image: Self Portrait as a Thirteen Year Old Girl- Journal

image: Self Portrait as a Thirteen Year Old Girl- Sleepover

image: Self Portrait as a Thirteen Year Old Girl- Corner

Domestic Disturbance

Topher McCulloch — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 23:47:52 GMT

image: Man in Field

image: Man Drinking Tea

image: Woman Washing Dishes

image: Woman Cooking

image: Woman at Home

image: Woman Vacuuming