Show Pony / Prize Pig

In her latest work, Charsley continues to explore methods of performance, writing and photography, in collaboration with photographer and videographer, Kitt Murphy. Focusing on issues of misogyny and the male gaze in Pre-Raphaelite art, Show Pony is a fictional retelling of Elizabeth Siddall’s tragic life story. Although an artist in her own right, she was most famous for being the Brotherhood’s golden girl, posing for paintings such as Millais Ophelia (1851-52).  However, fellow painter Dante Gabriel Rosetti grew jealous and wanted Lizzie all to himself, demanding she work with no artist except himself. Informed by this abuse of power between artist and muse, the series explores themes of obsession, control and sorrow through juxtaposing imagery, and the symbolism of different flora and fauna in religious art, still life and literature.  

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Prize Pig is the second artwork in this collaborative installation. In Christian doctrine and early philosophy, 'The Great Chain of Being' is a hierarchical structure made of all living things, with minerals, plants and animals providing the foundations for life on earth. Despite their importance, they are often overlooked and considered lesser than when compared to patriarchal figures higher up the chain. The female protagonist adapts the image of a suckling pig, a prized commodity and status symbol to be hunted, dressed up and feasted upon, as a metaphor for woman as animal. The film pays homage to these underrepresented factions, using their symbolism to convey hidden meaning, emotions and stories in relation to issues of feminine identity, gender politics and the male gaze.