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Introduction
Born in the central european country of Slovakia,
Galina (Gala) Kirke now lives in New Zealand where she teaches Art at
Christchurch Girls High School in Christchurch. Her work mainly revolves
around “Celebrity worship Syndrome” - Today’s society
phenomenon.
Artist statement:
“81 percent of British women, according to a recent survey, defined
physical perfection as having the face and breasts of Catherine Zeta-Jones,
Jennifer Aniston’s hair, Kylie Minogue’s bum and Victoria
Beckham’s legs.”
(Sunday Star*Times Magazine, 29/8/2004, p.20)
The desire to achieve physical perfection has become today’s phenomenon and is effecting a large proportion of the western population. The pressure to become “perfect” has never been stronger.
Those most effected by this unachievable perfection,
that set unhealthy expectations on themselves, are young girls. The young
teenager/the fan, who is not able to distinguish real from fantasy. Through
her eyes, I portray an obsession with perfectionism the public has developed
in recent years. The uniqueness is a rare quality. We all participate
in the modern culture of Celebrity Worship Syndrome and I explore this
delusion through my art.
