Kim Dingle
Encyclopedia
Kim Dingle is a Los Angeles
based contemporary artist working in paint
, sculpture
and installation
.
Dingle grew up in Pomona, California
. In 1988 she earned a BFA from Cal State Los Angeles and in 1990, an MFA from Claremont Graduate School.
, Queen Elizabeth
and George Foreman
. Her inspiration for these works began with her mother’s belief that she is related to both George Washington
and Queen Elizabeth
.
Shortly after the Cram portrait series, Kim Dingle began a critique of girlhood innocence with the character, Priss. Dingle’s niece Wadow, who exhibited very violent behavior as a result of prenatal brain damage, was a major source of inspiration for the Priss character.
Dingle often inserts Priss and her cohorts, the Wild Girls, into celebrated historic scenes. These images reclaim famous American myths like George Washington
and the cherry tree
for her fleshy heroines and question the semiotics
of patriotism
. For example, in Untitled (Girls with the dresspole), 1998 Dingle’s leading ladies raise a dresspole in a pose reminiscent of the famous photograph of soldiers raising the flag on Iwo Jima
.
The Priss works led to another series of work for Dingle, this time employing the characters Fatty and Fudge. Fatty, a white girl and Fudge, a black girl, partner up to enact their diabolic whims. Their exploits and frustrations often turn on themselves, and Fatty and Fudge inevitable resort to attacking each other. In the “Never in School” series, Dingle introduced anonymous school mates, whom Fatty and Fudge blissfully dominate in the absence of adults or boys.
Dingle's work has also been a topic of concern due to her inclusion of the "Black female" body and its increasing role of "entertainment" in her work rather than challenging or proposing the "Race" question that her earlier work attempted.
.
Dingle's works are included in the collections of MOCA LA
, the LA County Museum of Art, MOCA San Diego, the San Francisco Museum of Art, the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art, the Norton Family Foundation among others. Kim Dingle’s work has been reviewed in Art in America
, Arts Magazine
, Art Issues, Artscene, Frieze
and Artforum
.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
based contemporary artist working in paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
, sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
and installation
Installation art
Installation art describes an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces, whereas exterior interventions are often called Land art; however, the boundaries between...
.
Dingle grew up in Pomona, California
Pomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
. In 1988 she earned a BFA from Cal State Los Angeles and in 1990, an MFA from Claremont Graduate School.
Overview
Kim Dingle's work characteristically depicts stout young girls dressed in patent-leather maryjanes and frilly party dresses that are involved in stereotypically masculine acts full of aggression and violence. David Winton Bell Gallery states, "her art illuminates the role that race, gender, stereotype and myth play in defining identity." Ana Honigman states, “Dingle’s girls strength does not lie in the ability to get grown-ups or men to protect them, but in their ability to be strong for themselves.Series of Works
Her first solo exhibition, “Portraits from the Dingle Library” combined images of her mother, Cram, with portraits of iconic figures like George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth
-Queens regnant:* Elizabeth I of England , last Tudor monarch over England, reigned 1558–1603* Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms, reigned since 1952-Queens consort, dowager and mother:...
and George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
. Her inspiration for these works began with her mother’s belief that she is related to both George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth
-Queens regnant:* Elizabeth I of England , last Tudor monarch over England, reigned 1558–1603* Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms, reigned since 1952-Queens consort, dowager and mother:...
.
Shortly after the Cram portrait series, Kim Dingle began a critique of girlhood innocence with the character, Priss. Dingle’s niece Wadow, who exhibited very violent behavior as a result of prenatal brain damage, was a major source of inspiration for the Priss character.
Dingle often inserts Priss and her cohorts, the Wild Girls, into celebrated historic scenes. These images reclaim famous American myths like George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and the cherry tree
Cherry Tree
Cherry Tree may refer to:* A tree that produces cherries* An ornamental cherry tree that produces cherry blossomsPlaces* Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania, a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States* Cherry Tree, Oklahoma...
for her fleshy heroines and question the semiotics
Semiotics
Semiotics, also called semiotic studies or semiology, is the study of signs and sign processes , indication, designation, likeness, analogy, metaphor, symbolism, signification, and communication...
of patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
. For example, in Untitled (Girls with the dresspole), 1998 Dingle’s leading ladies raise a dresspole in a pose reminiscent of the famous photograph of soldiers raising the flag on Iwo Jima
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is a historic photograph taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.The photograph was extremely...
.
The Priss works led to another series of work for Dingle, this time employing the characters Fatty and Fudge. Fatty, a white girl and Fudge, a black girl, partner up to enact their diabolic whims. Their exploits and frustrations often turn on themselves, and Fatty and Fudge inevitable resort to attacking each other. In the “Never in School” series, Dingle introduced anonymous school mates, whom Fatty and Fudge blissfully dominate in the absence of adults or boys.
Dingle's work has also been a topic of concern due to her inclusion of the "Black female" body and its increasing role of "entertainment" in her work rather than challenging or proposing the "Race" question that her earlier work attempted.
Honors and Accolades
Kim Dingle was a participant in the 2000 Whitney BiennialWhitney Biennial
The Whitney Biennial is a biennale exhibition of contemporary American art, typically by young and lesser known artists, on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, USA. The event began as an annual exhibition in 1932, the first biennial was in 1973...
.
Dingle's works are included in the collections of MOCA LA
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is a contemporary art museum with three locations in greater Los Angeles, California. The main branch is located on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, near Walt Disney Concert Hall...
, the LA County Museum of Art, MOCA San Diego, the San Francisco Museum of Art, the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art, the Norton Family Foundation among others. Kim Dingle’s work has been reviewed in Art in America
Art in America
Art in America is an illustrated monthly, international magazine concentrating on the contemporary art world, including profiles of artists and genres, updates about art movements, show reviews and event schedules. It is designed for collectors, artists, dealers, art professionals and other...
, Arts Magazine
Arts Magazine
Arts Magazine was monthly magazine devoted to fine art. It was established in 1926 and last published in 1992. It was originally called The Art Digest and was earlier published semi-monthly from October to May and monthly from June to September. It was later renamed Arts and finally, Arts Magazine...
, Art Issues, Artscene, Frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
and Artforum
Artforum
Artforum is an international monthly magazine specializing in contemporary art.-Publication:The magazine is published ten times a year, September through May, along with an annual summer issue...
.