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Cultural Feminism through artwork installation of Brick House
This IB art extended essay example explores the symbolic representation of cultural feminism in Simone Leigh’s sculptural installation, “Brick House,” which is prominently displayed in New York. Through detailed formal analysis and cultural interpretation, the IB essay investigates how the artwork, with its robust imagery and use of materials like bronze and clay, portrays the resilience and identity of women of color. This insightful analysis is supported by MLA citations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the cultural significance embedded in Leigh’s work.
September 17, 2024
* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.
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Topic; Cultural Feminism through artwork installation of Brick House
Research Question; To what extent does Simone Leigh sculptural artwork installation, Brick
House, symbolically represent cultural feminism in the context of women of color?
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Artist; Simone Leigh
Title; Brick House
Medium Bronze and Clay
Year; 2019
New York Public Park.
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Introduction
Simone Leigh’s visual artwork comprises an array of media, including but not limited to
sculptures, social performances, installations, and social practice. In the past, Leigh has
described her artwork as auto-ethnographic with a particular focus and interest in feminism. Her
works are expressly informed by the history and experiences of marginalized women of color
and strive to reframe their harsh realities as central to society. The Brick House is an artwork that
is a sculpture with a combination of a form of a skirt, a clay house, and the head represented as
crowned by cornrows of braids. This research paper assesses the extent to which the artwork is
symbolic and represents the ideals of cultural feminism. The visual analysis part of this paper is
informed by the artistic elements that the artist has employed on the monument to convey a
message of representing the marginalized women of color within the modern-day space( Leigh).
The fact that it is a public monument strategically placed in the middle of New York is a
significant part of its message regarding the social realities of women of color (Halley). As a
symbolic representation of women of color, this artwork installation is analyzed using cultural
feminism as a theoretical framework bound to guide the analysis process. This research is
essential because it provides a contextual understanding of the role of visual artwork in societies
that have marginalized women. By employing the artistic element in the formation of this
artwork, this research paper assesses the integration of the cultural aspects that also inform the
artwork with the artist’s background being an ethnographer and a feminist. Research Question;
To what extent does Simone Leigh’s sculptural artwork installation, Brick House, symbolically
represent cultural feminism in the context of women of color?
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Description of the Artwork
Brick House is a sixteen-foot-tall bronze sculpture informed by the image of a woman of color
whose head is crowned with afro-framed cornrows. The cornrows on the head of the Brick
House are developed to form four braids. The body part forms a dome-like shape with patterns of
ridges that move from the neck to the upper body part. It has a torso with imagery of a skirt and a
clay house. The sculptural installation stands on the Plinth and stares down 10th avenue in New
York(Halley). It is raised at the entrance of the elevated park of the former Central Railway in
New York. Notably, the eyes of the image of the woman represented by the artwork are not open
and appear as if closed. The color of Brick House resonates with that of black women from
marginalized communities. It is dark and shiny, blending with the backdrop of the skyscrapers’
mirrors, making it appear more appealing to the viewer. However, there is a sharp contrast with
the environment in terms of the modern setting and the traditional features of the artwork
installation( Leigh).
Formal Analysis
The visual and physical textures of Brick House play an important role in enhancing the
message of cultural feminism for women of color in marginalized communities. Simone Leigh’s
artwork is formed from materials that are drawn from clay and bronze, which gives it a rough
texture. The rough surface, particularly from the clay, resonates with the artwork’s symbol,
essentially a representation of women of color from west Africa and the Southern U.S. The fact
that it has a rough texture also evokes the feeling that the women of color have been reeling in
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the backdrop of modernity that has not strived to address the position of women from
marginalized communities (Leigh). For this reason, the use of bronze and clay gives the artwork
a rough texture that resonates with the overall thematic concern that Leigh communicates using
Brick House.
The rough texture also informs the plight and resilience of the women from the southern U.S
and West Africa. As a staunch feminist advocating for the empowerment and equal opportunities
for women from marginalized communities, the artwork’s dull and rough texture provides the
viewers with a feeling of resilience that women are subjected to even in the wake of the
increased calls from the feminist activists to the address the plight of women. The braids and the
decorated pattern of the torso add to the texture of roughness, making the viewer develop a
feeling of sympathy towards the object. However, the choice of materials such as bronze and
clay is also ingeniously used to represent the power of resilience that the women of color have,
given that they come from patriarchal societies with oppressive systems that regard women as
inferior(Leigh).
Another crucial artistic element that has been used in the artwork is colour. Leigh as
ingeniously used the dull black colour to represent a gloomy mood that the oppression of women
in marginalized communities experience. It is imperative to note that the clay and bronze that
dominate the material used in the sculptural work blend with the dull colour bound to reinforce
the meaning of the message that the artist conveys to the viewers. The dull colour symbolically
represents women who have been silenced by the sociocultural changes in the modern world.
The choice of the dull and dark colour to be a part of the Brick House is an exciting aspect that
draws the viewer’s attention to develop an emotional attachment to the artwork through the harsh
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realities it is subjected to through the social systems and beliefs that are oppressive. It is
imperative to note that the colour of the painting is reinforced by the texture formed by the
materials used, bronze and clay. Notably, the low intensity of the artwork is attributable to the
use of cultural feminism in which Leigh explores the social belief system that is anchored on
presenting the female gender as weak and inferior. Arguably, the usage of black colour is also
essential to depict a woman who is resilient and has maintained her indigenous identity( Halley).
The social-cultural changes have not eroded the identity of the women from the indigenous
societies. Unlike the bright colour that would elicit a happy mood and feel for the viewers, the
choice of dull and dark colours for Brick House is also bound to make the viewers experience an
emotional attachment associated with sympathy.
Space is also an element of the artwork that Leigh has used in this artwork to reinforce the
theme of cultural feminism representing women of colour. Notably, the artwork is strategically
placed right in the middle of the park, surrounded by modern skyscrapers. Since Leigh is
interested in presenting women who have been neglected in the wake of the massive creation of
awareness among women and the call for their empowerment, the artwork has been placed in the
middle of the busy city life where the viewers are bound to focus on its existence. The negative
space that comprises the modern-day structure, including the railroad and space in the park, is
meant to give the viewers an acute sense of thought to determine what the artwork represents
(Halley). Arguably, the sharp contrast between the artwork installation and the modern
background illustrates the cultural differences women from marginalized communities face in the
wake of modernization. The anatomy of architecture is an artistic element that Leigh has
effectively used in Brick House., which has a measurement of 16feet height. The size is enough
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for the viewers to focus on since it covers a considerably adequate space compared to the
negative space in the backdrop dominated by modern skyscrapers. For this reason, the space as
an artistic element has been used effectively by the artist to reinforce the place of women from
marginalized communities.
Apart from the space Brick House occupies, there is the element of the form that Leigh
has used effectively in this sculpture to represent native women symbolically. The head of the
artwork has been decorated with cornrows and braids that resonate with those of the native
women. Ideally, the form of the sculpture work is typically expressed in terms of the identity of
the native women, particularly the African Americans and the Southern Americans. Since Leigh’s
artwork is based on the expression of the auto-ethnographic and culture, the combination of the
decorative patterns on the head and the torso amplifies. Most importantly, the artwork’s
composition of bronze and clay reinforces the meaning of cultural influences that represent
marginalized communities. Both bronze and clay are primarily associated with their use in the
traditional setting where the native women are still reeling under the domination of the
patriarchal systems (Benescu, 9). The idea of installing the artwork against the backdrop of a
building made of steel and glass towers erected right in the middle of the earlier and older
industrial brick building is symbolically significant in terms of the aesthetic value and
interpretation of the artwork installation. Leigh is raising awareness through her artwork of the
place of women in the emerging modernized lifestyle. There is a need to protect the interests of
women from marginalized communities and preserve their identities in the wake of the changing
demographics and cultures. As part of the anatomy of architecture representing the women from
west Africa and Southern Africa, Leigh strives to illustrate that such women should also have a
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place in the fast-changing landscapes and the architectural designs of the buildings engaging in
negotiations.
Figure 2. Brick House; Simone Leigh
Another significant aspect of form that Leigh has effectively used in Brick House is the use of
shape. As a three-dimensional shape dimensional figure, it is essential to note that Leigh has
employed both the rough the smooth texture on the neck and the head. The contrasting texture
makes it possible for the viewers to perceive the different materials used in the composition.
Since the native women inform the work of the west African and Southern U.S, the contrast in
appearance helps the artist to emphasize using this work on the existence of the identities of the
women from the marginalized communities. Whereas the cornrows represent the indigenous
women of the southern U.S, the dark complexion used in the artwork resonates with the black
women from West Africa. In light of the research question herein, Leigh has successfully made
it possible to combine aspects of two cultures and represent women through the framework of
cultural feminism.
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Most importantly, form as a dominating artistic element makes it possible for the viewers to
perceive the sharp contrast in the representation of women from marginalized communities
(Halley). The torso part of the artwork has significantly used the patterns of the decoration in the
shape of traditional beads that represent women from the communities that have majorly denied
women the opportunity to take part in influential decision-making processes (Frueh, 165). The
fact that the artist has employed a structure that dominates the audience’s view makes it possible
to convey a message of having a place for women to take part in the significant decisions of
society. Symbolically, the artwork installation is strategically placed in the middle of a city that
represents the modern society where women have been relatively empowered to take part in the
central decision-making process.
Cultural Functions of the Artwork
Simone Leigh is an auto-ethnographer who uses her artwork to inform the public about the
cultures and address the plight of women in marginalized communities. Through her artwork, she
can shed light and advocate for action to eliminate the existing stereotypes used in the past to
oppress women. The Brick House conveys an important message about the central and
significant place of women’s cultures from marginalized communities. For example, the cornrow
hairstyle originated in West Africa. It was explicitly used for the beautification and identity of the
female, particularly those traded in America to work as enslaved people.
For this reason, the aesthetic elements that the artist has employed mainly convey an
aspect of cultures that are still evident in the present day but have their origin drawn from a
different cultural context( Benescu 8). Leigh’s use of the cornrows on the head of Brick House is
purposefully to communicate the culture and identity of women in the context of the
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marginalized community. Notably, a significant function of the artwork installation used in this
case of Brick House is the transmission of culture from a generation to modern-day women of
colour. Ideally, they can trace their history and identity through the representation that is
provided by the artwork installation. In line with cultural feminism, Leigh aims to ensure that the
place and identity of indigenous communities are not compromised but reinforced through the
works of art.
Another significant element of Brick House that is used to affirm women’s identity is
the name of the artwork, which is drawn from the form constituting clay and bronze. Ideally,
native women from marginalized communities were regarded as inferior within the context of
male-dominated societies. Arguably, women were regarded as weak through their physical
attributes, which has been a major challenge of the gender stereotypes for women from
marginalized communities. However, through this artwork installation, Leigh uses a concrete
element to convey that women from marginalized communities are resilient. The title of the
artwork is symbolic and translates to a brick house, which captures the viewer’s imagination to
focus on the stature of the artwork as a brick house. Ideally, a brick house is known to be
resilient and would stand against bad weather and climate changes; for this reason, Leigh’s
choice of title reinforces the female identity through the use of artwork. It conveys a cultural
significance in the modern-day world and the place of women in marginalized communities.
The use of beads as part of the torso decoration is a significant aspect of the indigenous
women in marginalized communities. Since the artwork plays a pertinent role in transmitting the
cultures, the Brick House is dominatingly using the beads on the torso to communicate the
identity of women who have not been part of the feminist movement that advocates for equal
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opportunities for women. The fact that it has been placed right in the middle of busy streets
depicting modernization, the form of artwork installation is representative of the traditional
identity of women. Leigh expresses the concerns of an ethnographer interested in advocating for
the rights of women who have been sidelined in the wake of calls for women’s
empowerment( Helley). Additionally, body adornment for women is attributable to the identity in
cultures where women are identified by their physical attributes through their dressing. Leigh
uses aesthetic visual attributes that are related to feminine identity.
Cultural Feminism Analysis of Brick House
Leigh’s artwork, Brick House, is informed by cultural feminism in that it uses the female
anatomy to communicate the significance of women’s identity. Ideally, cultural feminists
deconstruct the existing stereotypes between male and female anatomies within the cultural
context. The shape of the artwork reveals the female anatomy that is bound to represent women’s
dominating position in society(Benescu,7). It is imperative to note that the size of the sculpture
also reinforces the identity of women, which also resonates with ideologies of cultural feminists
who strive to value the qualities of women as superior. The torso part of Brick House dominates
the artwork and the viewers’ focus. As part of promoting women’s liberation from the gender
stereotypes associated with female physical attributes, such as the anatomy of their bodies, this is
an important aspect of cultural feminism. Brick House is also aimed at depicting feminine
qualities that are shared with women across different cultures. For this reason, an element of
cultural feminism dominates Brick House, as is evident in Leigh’s aesthetics and artistic
elements. Another pertinent aspect of the artwork is the shared cultural feminism ideology in the
shared values among women from all cultures and races. Instead of addressing the plight of
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women according to their cultures and race, cultural feminists are interested in identifying the
commonplace for women across different cultures. Consequently, Leigh strategically places the
Brick House in the backdrop of a society that has a mixture of women from various cultural
backgrounds who have been a part of advocating for women’s empowerment. In the wake of the
reforms and creating awareness among women from marginalized communities, the artwork
effectively answers the research question herein by ascertaining the extent to which Leigh has
employed the artistic elements to address inclusive cultural feminism.
The representation of the black women using the artwork is attributable to the cultural
context that informs the artwork. Black women from marginalized communities still reel under
the oppressive systems that are meant to suppress their ability to make critical choices by
themselves. Instead, they are dominated by patriarchal systems (Lugones, Maria & Elizabeth
494). The idea of installing a sculpture representing the harsh realities of the African women in
the middle of the city public park addresses their issues with the focus of presenting them to the
entire world. The display of the Brick House in public proves the replicating experiences and
identities of women across cultures in the world. For this reason, the Brick House is a
representation that is not only limited to showcasing the realities and identities of black women
but extends to representing women who have been reeling under oppressive male-dominated
systems.
The artwork deviates from radical feminism by presenting women’s anatomy as a
physical attribute that gives them identity as it is installed through the anatomy architecture for
public display. Leigh conveys a message of pride in the physical attribute of women. Right from
the head and the torso, the artwork is informed by the artwork conveying a message of women
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taking pride in their physical attributes presented through the anatomical structure and form.
Most importantly, Leigh deconstructs the gender stereotype associated with women with their
anatomy as inferior. Thus, the ideals of cultural feminism have been used effectively in the
formulation of the artwork to represent women of colour.
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Leigh also conveys the message of equality of power using Brick House. Ideally, in male-
dominated societies, women are placed below men in the social hierarchy of power, making it
difficult for women to participate in decision-making. However, by using the Brick House as an
artistic work, Leigh advocates for equality of power for both men and women. The structure of
the head and torso represent the female anatomy in public, which is symbolically important
concerning a representation that translates to the position of women in modern-day
society( Halley). The fact that the artwork has been installed in modern-day society conveys a
message that it is possible to have a fair representation of women, even those from marginalized
communities. For this reason, Leigh successfully used artistic elements to represent the ideals of
feminism for women of colour. Brick House consists of the head and torso balanced evenly to
reinforce the message of the representation of women of color (Frueh 157). Ideally, balance
allows the viewer to pay attention to the parts of the artwork evenly since every element is
important in conveying the themes and message of the artwork. Additionally, there is a balance
of colour for the head and the torso, which are dominated by dark and dull hues. With the Brick
House influenced by the identities and cultures of women from marginalized communities, then
its visual appeals are significantly resonating with women of color.
Discussion
Leigh’s choice of artistic elements in the formation of Brick House has significantly helped
reinforce the theme of feminism and represent women of colour. Ideally, the cultural and
historical context of the artwork is important to the overall understanding of its position of Leigh
when installing Brick House. The visual appeals and aesthetic on the head convey the feminist
art message of women’s representation of the choice of color and resonates with the overall
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message of representation of women of color. Notably, dull color gave the viewers a feeling of
sad emotion that is required to convey the oppression women of color undergo in male-
dominated societies (Benescu 7). On the other hand, the choice of aesthetic elements in the
artwork reinforces the representation of women from marginalized communities. For example,
the choice of cornrows on the head of Brick House resonates with West African women in the
epoch of slavery. As such, there is a significant cultural and historical attachment to the work
through the pattern of materials she has used in Brick House.
Additionally, the combination of materials such as clay and bronze for the making up of
the sculpture of Brick House resonates with the idea of women’s empowerment since the
materials are part of illustrating the resilience of women from marginalized communities. It is
not only artwork with artistic elements but an important part of deconstructing the gender
stereotypes that women are inferior. A closer assessment of the Brick House reveals it as a
representation of women who have maintained their identity and have significantly contributed
to the efforts of the liberation of oppressed women. Most importantly, artistic elements such as
space and hue have been used by Leigh to aid in the representation of women’s identity and their
role in the development of awareness that makes it possible to liberate those who are reeling
under the domination of men( Leigh). The fact that the idea of Brick House is drawn from
cultural feminism, the strategic position of the artwork installation provides a sharp contrast
between modern city life and the traditional representation of women of color.
Evaluation
The Brick House is part of Leigh’s artwork contributing to her call for women’s empowerment.
Ideally, the representation of women of colour from marginalized communities is evident
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through the usage of artistic elements that reinforce the meaning. The viewers can perceive the
representation of women’s cultures through the decorations, such as the cornrows and beads that
dominate the sculpture’s head and torso. Leigh has successfully integrated the two aspects of
cultures and identity through the materials used, the bronze and clay symbolically representing
the women of color (Frueh, 154). By using cultural feminism as a guiding theoretical framework
for assessing the artwork, it is evident that Leigh uses the artwork to advocate and empower
women who are reeling from male domination. A rough texture dominates the composition of
Brick House, which translates to the resilience of the native women from marginalized
communities. It is imperative to note that the research question that informed this paper was to
assess the extent to which Leigh has represented cultural feminism within the context of women
of color (Frueh, 153). The artistic elements such as color and texture have an identity that
resonates with that of the native women from west Africa and the Southern U.S through the
cornrows beads used for the aesthetic values of Brick House.
Conclusion
The Brick House is a monumental public artwork representing women of color from
marginalized communities. Simone Leigh employs artistic elements that include but are not
limited to color, texture, space, and aesthetics to represent women’s empowerment through art.
By installing the artwork in the middle of the public city park in the backdrop of the modern
architectural designs of skyscrapers, Leigh has conveyed a message of women’s empowerment
even amid modernization. The sharp contrast between modernity and tradition does not translate
identity crisis for women of color. The research question has been answered successfully through
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the critical assessment of the artistic elements and the theory of cultural feminism employed in
the analysis of Brick House.
Works Cited
Achlioptas, Panos, et al. “Artemis: Affective language for visual art.” Proceedings of the IEEE/
CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition. 2021.
Benescu, Gabriela. “Creativity and communication in the Visual Arts.” Bulletin of the
Transilvania University of Braşov. Series VIII: Performing Arts (2020): 7-16.
Frueh, Joanna. “Towards a feminist theory of art criticism.” Feminist Art Criticism. Routledge,
2018. 153-165.
Halley Mellin. “Simone Leigh’s ‘Brick House’ Is the Best Thing in the Hudson Yards Area”
Garage. Retrieved from https://garage.vice.com/en_us/article/gy483w/simone-leigh-
brick-house
Leigh, Simone. “American Artist.” BOMB 149 (2019): 61-69.
Lugones, Maria C., & Elizabeth V. Spelman. “Have we got a theory for you! Feminist theory,
cultural imperialism and the demand for “the woman’s voice.”” Feminism and
Philosophy. Routledge, 2018. 494-507.
September 17, 2024
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Academic level:
IB Student
Type of paper:
IB Extended essay
Discipline:
Art
Citation:
MLA
Pages:
15 (4000 words)
Spacing:
Double
* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.
