Faculty of Art

Photography

Barbara Astman

Dancing with Che

While visiting Cuba, Astman was drawn to the emblematic design of novelty items that had been emblazoned with the face of Ché Guevara, a Cuban revolutionary leader prevalent during the 1950s. Astman found herself interested in the proliferation of his image, observing how his portrait continued to be appropriated – so many decades after his death – by various groups as a symbol of extremism.When viewed sequentially, Dancing with Che is a fictional performance between Astman and her dance partner, Che Guevara. Astman uses her image to evoke an emotive narrative—rooted within her psyche and based on her own lived experience, completed in the viewer’s imagination—through carefully orchestrated compositions of poses, gestures, and form.

“In Dancing with Che, Astman examines the blurring identity between historical figure and pop culture icon. Addressing the issue by imbuing the now banal image of Che with the physical presence of her body, creating a personal, as well as a present moment, in which act as a fading reminder of a historical and cultural past.Second paragraph.”