The female nude: a sculptural investigation of variations of meaning and imagery in the Western tradition

Alice, Bonita Kim

The female nude: a sculptural investigation of variations of meaning and imagery in the Western tradition

Thesis / Dissertation

1990

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Michaelis School of Fine Art

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

My work is intended as an exploration of conceptions of the female form in the imagery of selected Western cultural traditions. This will be achieved by experimenting with sculptural metaphors derived from the female figure as well as from existing images of the female nude in Western culture. The aim is to illustrate the extent to which the meaning of the female nude has been abstracted from its human origins. The work will attempt to show how attitudes to women in Western societies are reflected in representations of the nude female. I intend to emphasise the practical, that is the sculptural, component of this study, as is required for the M.F.A. degree. The written component will extend and evaluate ideas derived from the sculptural work.

Keywords

Fine Art

Reference:

Collections

Masters

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