Tearing up Vogue and Mining the Detritus
An exhibition of practice-based doctoral research by Ehryn Torrell
About the exhibition
This exhibition will display a body of practice-based doctoral research in montage by Ehryn Torrell (IRPH, SSH). Montage is not a singular artistic medium like painting or drawing, but rather it is intermedium (Higgins, 1965). It often includes the act of cutting up and reassembling photographic images to say something about representation and ways of seeing.
In her practice-based research, Torrell has asked the following questions: How can montage allow an artist to deconstruct and challenge fashion media, particularly the racialised and gendered bodies in Vogue magazines? What methods of montage might be used? Does using a fashion magazine as source material risk giving voice to already dominant or normative images of women?
To find out, Torrell has selected 8 Vogue and Teen Vogue magazines produced between 1968-2017 in France, the US, and Italy as source material. Each issue has been used to create one single montage on paper. Torrell has called these 'primary montage' and they will be on display in the gallery. The used magazines will also be on display, as they contain what Torrell has called 'secondary montage.' This is a key aspect of her research, as she mines the detritus of process to find out what impact, if any, she has made on the source.
Opening hours
- Thurs 2 May, 12-4pm with an opening reception from 2-4pm (all warmly welcome)
- Friday 3 May, 12-4pm & 6-8pm
- Sat 4 May, 12-4pm
- Wed 8 May, 12-4pm
- Thurs 9 May, 12-4pm
- Fri 10 May, 12-4pm
The artist will be present in person to discuss the work during opening hours except for Friday 3 May, 6-8pm and Wednesday 8 May, 12-4pm.
The exhibition will open on Friday 3 May, 6-8pm as part of Loughborough Lates, an evening of arts and cultural events in venues across Loughborough.
Find out more about Loughborough Lates
About the artist
Ehryn Torrell is a practice-based PhD candidate in International Relations, Politics and History in the School (IRPH) of Social Sciences and Humanities at Loughborough University. Her research sits within the Centre for Doctoral Training in Feminism, Sexual Politics, and Visual Culture. She gratefully acknowledges support in part by funding from the CDT and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada.
Accessibility
There is step-free access into the gallery via a ramp and side door. During opening hours, there will be an invigilator on duty in the gallery. If you require their assistance, then please alert them on arrival by calling to them or waving at them – the entrance to the gallery is fully glazed and the main entrance door should be open.
For more information about the venue, including photographs, view the access guide for Martin Hall on AccessAble.
If you have any specific access requirements, then please contact LUArts@lboro.ac.uk in advance of your visit and we will do our best to accommodate them.
Facilities
There are toilets located on the ground floor of Martin Hall including an accessible toilet. There is step-free access into this building.
Martin Hall Cafe serves light refreshments and is open from 8.30am to 5pm Mon-Fri. It is located behind the gallery, accessed through the main entrance to Martin Hall.
Parking
Please note that visitors are now required to register their vehicle and pay to park on campus. There are various ways in which you can register and pay (both in advance and on arrival).
More information on visitor parking
Public transport
If you are travelling by public transport, you can take the Sprint Bus from Loughborough railway station or the town centre (Ashby Square) and alight at Loughborough College. Cross Epinal Way at the pedestrian crossing and keep going straight ahead to enter campus. This brings you onto Shirley Pearce Square with Martin Hall on the left.
View the full Sprint Bus timetable.
Image title: Primary montage with French Vogue, May 1968 by Ehryn Torrell