COVE

Display Explanation: 

 I would display the three images of my installation in a museum room with a water theme. All three photos have the same subject matter, that is water. When you go to enter the room there will not be a door or anything. There will be a tiny bridge you have to go over to enter the room. If you look under the bridge, there won't be actual water but there will be colored glass that looks like water. The colored glass is layered so there are different shades of light and dark blue. When you first walk into the room you would notice the three pictures placed in a triangle way in the middle of the room. The pictures will be pretty big so they can take up a good amount of space. I would like to have the photo framed with an antique looking gold picture frame around it. I feel like it would bring out all the blue in the pictures with the water. The framed pictures would then be placed up on an easel. The easel would also be gold to match the frame. The four walls will be painted a dark sea blue to go along with the sea theme. The floor in the museum will be made out of sea glass. There will be different colors of blue, gray, green, and white. The glass will be all different sorts of shapes and sizes so they stand out. Along the outside, the trim of the walls will have seashells on them. A common theme in some of the photos at sea were the seashells in them. The seashells will also be all different shapes, colors, and sizes. The shells will be attached to the trim and will go around the whole outside of the room. Additionally, the ceiling will also add to the installation. There will be a projector placed in the room pointing to the top of the room. The room will be a little dim so the projection can stand out a little bit, but won’t take away from the photos too much. The projector will be showing a loop of a live underwater video. The video will look like you are at the bottom of the ocean looking up at the surface. The video will have lots of sea life and movement in it. The point of this projector is so if someone is walking around the museum and is waiting to see one of the photos they can also just look up and be amused by that. I also think the projection adds background to the pictures of my installation. In conclusion, all of the different little details will bring the theme of the photos together. The picture frames and wall color will make the photos pop out more, the glass and sea glass add to the water theme, the seashells also bring the photos together, and the projector builds on the topic. The sirens live in the water and use it as their weapon. This museum installation basically mirrors where a siren would live and use their threatening energy. 

Installation note:

The three photos I picked have a lot of different things in common. At first glance you will notice that all the photos have an element of water in them connecting them all. But, the main reason I chose these photos is the energy behind all of them. All the women in these photos give off some sort of siren energy. Even though they are all nymphs, they all have the same energy that a siren gives off. They have a dangerous and compelling sexuality about them. They seem very open but also threatening at the same time. The first photo they will see is The Cave of the Storm Nymphs by Edward Poynter. This photo displays two nymphs with a sinking ship in the background. This highlights the power the nymphs have over others. Possibly over people that disrespected or overlooked them. They are being sexualized because of their nudity but the ship in the background shows what power they can hold. This really gives them that hazardous siren energy each picture contains. The second photo the viewers will see is Hylas and the Nymphs by John William. This is my favorite picture of the three because I feel like it shows the most compelling energy overall. The photo shows many nymphs in the water approaching a man that is on the land. All of the nymphs in this picture are reeling in this man but also look like they hold the power to really do some harmful things to him. They are also nude in this photo so their sexuality is also shining through with the energy. Their sexuality is drawing in but also scary at the same time. The final photo pictured in my installation is Neptune and the Water Nymphs. This picture shows many water nymphs gathered around in the water wearing see through clothing, getting along and having fun. While there are not any men in this picture, all the women in it are still captivating. The see through clothing makes them approachable to the male gaze. But from what you can see from the two previous photos, they are not at all. They are actually quite dangerous. The male gaze takes over and hides the danger of the nymphs from the male eye. In conclusion, the sexuality of the three photos is what really pulls it together. The openness of the nymphs heightens their sexuality. Most of them are nude which really catches the male gaze. But others have more of an alluring spirit that would bring men in. After these men have already been lured in, you can see the dark energy in them come out. A sense of horror comes out in the nymphs that remind me of a siren. This dark energy reflects the power they hold. Whether that be the sinking ship or the feeling the picture gives. But, I can really feel the strength the women have over the men in these pictures. Their sexuality can be described as dark, powerful, and alluring.

Poynter, Edward. The Cave of the Storm Nymphs. 1902. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cave_of_the_Storm_Nymphs 

Waterhouse, John William. Hylas and the Nymphs. 1896. Manchester Art Gallery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_William_Waterhouse#/media/File:Waterhouse_Hylas_and_the_Nymphs_Manchester_Art_Gallery_1896.15.jpg. 

Oberhauser, Emanuel. Neptune and the Water Nymphs. 1854. The European Art Sale.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/the-european-art-sale/neptune-and-the-water-nymphs