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When I was six years old, the coolest woman I ever met was a stripper in a confederate flag bikini. She watched me as a favor to my mother for, what was then, the greatest hour of my life. I had an undying admiration for the group of men that I was raised around, and they were all now looking at her. First, they smiled at our odd coupling, then their eyes drifted to her breasts- not totally covered by white nationalist napkins. I wanted what she had. And eventually, I got it.
If you were to wear a blindfold when you fucked me, would I still feel your gaze? Would you still undress me with your eyes and consume me with your imagination?
I have often found myself bending and breaking in accordance to the laws of visibility; doing splits and spread eagles so I can be pleasing to their eye.
I often get fucked, but I am always surveilled.
My perfect stripper, prettier, shinier, somehow more white and less violent than I will ever be, made her living on being edible- constructing a facade that could be easily consumed under a man's gaze. I don't intend to belittle her. Part of me envies her ability to survive in spaces I cannot. I want to be her still- but I don't want to go down easy. Beautiful, but putrid, sour, and choking on the way down. I want men to gag and retch while they consume me.
My practice dissects these feelings. Through humor and discomfort, I relive the gaze, and I attempt to murder my onlookers. I force intimacy and I punish those who participate.
Violet Bordin is a queer artist from San Francisco. Armed with a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in sculpture and a BA from Brown University in media theory and production, Bordin's intensive educational background informs their conceptual work. They are heavily reliant on theory and research, although their pieces often appear acutely unserious.
With an unapologetic focus on “white-womanisms”, Bordin navigates the intersectionality of gender and race in their work, offering a nuanced exploration of privilege and oppression. Their pieces delve into the intricacies of sex as a manifestation of white supremacy. Incorporating elements of surveillance and voyeurism, Bordin's art becomes a reflection on the intrusion into personal spaces and the control mechanisms prevalent in our digitally connected world. The juxtaposition of shock and humor in Bordin's work invites viewers to grapple with uncomfortable realities while engaging in a dialogue that transcends conventional artistic boundaries.
