Assignment #2_Lena Kurtz

Claire Rau's Booby Traps was difficult to understand when first observed. The series of work was about combat and the materials and objects used in combat. The more specific subjects were types of booby traps and barriers. There were numerous silkscreen prints framed and hanging on the gallery walls along with other three dimensional pieces spread throughout the gallery in various places. At first glance the exhibit seemed rather depressing and harsh but after hearing the artist speak about her work, it had an almost ironic and humorous aspect. The materials and colors used to make some of these intimidating images made them either ironically funny or beautiful.

The silkscreen print Cartouche with Noose was the piece that stood out the most to me. It depicts a rope noose framed by a very elegant cartouche. The background of the piece is yellow along with the cartouche and rope being shades of yellow and brown. The center of the cartouche is a dark shade of blue which helps to make the noose stand out from the rest of the piece.

When I first saw this piece, I thought it was about suicide and how people are lured into the idea that they should end their lives. The cartouche makes the noose inviting and hides the real horror that it brings upon people. After listening to the Artist speak about this piece, I believe that I understand the meaning more clearly. Booby traps are meant to lure you in and by placing the fancy framing around the noose, Claire is illustrating that sense of allurement. In the Artist's statement Claire states, "The name itself implies that only a fool or a booby would actually activate the trap...", this shows that people shouldn't be foolish enough to fall for these booby traps but do anyways. I think that Rau wanted to show how dimwitted characters in stories and movies are who fall for the elegant designs and fancy trimming of booby traps instead of turning away from them.