cindy sherman’s malformed portraits reflect on the fractured sense of self at zurich exhibition

Hauser & Wirth Zurich presents new works by Cindy Sherman

From June 9 to September 16, 2023, the Hauser & Wirth gallery in Zurich presents Cindy Sherman’s latest body of work. Reflecting on the fractured sense of self in modern society, this exhibition showcases a series of self-portraits where the artist skillfully collages and deconstructs her own face, crafting an array of unsettling characters that laugh, twist, squint and grimace in front of the camera. Sherman deliberately eliminates any backdrops, placing the focus solely on the face. Furthermore, by blending traditional photography and digital manipulation techniques, she highlights the intricate layers and malleability of the self.

representation and identity within contemporary media

For over four decades, the photographs of Cindy Sherman have delved into the themes of representation and identity within contemporary media. Since the early 2000s, the artist has embarked on a transformative journey, employing digital manipulation techniques to construct personas that encapsulate the fractured sense of self in our modern society.

Critic and curator Gabriele Schor writes on her process, ‘Sherman’s complex analysis of her face and her subtle employment of expression indicates that the working method of making up and costuming the self enables two processes: an intuitive and fluid process motivated by curiosity, and an intended process whose stimulus is conceptual and which has a ‘subject matter’.’

Cindy Sherman takes on the role of both photographer & model

At her latest exhibition hosted by Hauser & Wirth Zurich (find more here), Cindy Sherman employs a blend of digital collaging techniques and traditional transformations, including makeup, wigs, and costumes, to bring her deformed characters to life. In this innovative process, Sherman captures individual elements of her body —eyes, nose, lips, skin, hair, and ears— which she then skillfully cuts, pastes, and stretches onto a foundational image.

Cindy Sherman takes on the role of both photographer and model, flipping the usual dynamic between artist and subject. The sitters in her portraits aren’t independent individuals; they’re actually combinations of the artist’s own face. But despite this mix-up, the images still have a classic portrait look and manage to capture the essence of the portrayed individuals. Sherman’s characters are tightly framed, often with lots of hair, stretched-out features, or draped fabric, which disrupts the usual way of looking and challenges the typical subject-object setup found in traditional portraiture.

project info: 

artist: Cindy Sherman
location: Hauser & Wirth Zurich
dates: June 9 – September 16, 2023