Ke Chen
A Woman’s Work
My project draws on historic cleaning advertisements, such as vacuum cleaner commercials, where women are depicted as elegant and well-groomed central figures. This visual language subtly reinforces the idea that domestic labour is women’s responsibility. Reflecting on my childhood, I observed how my mother maintained a clean, orderly home, highlighting the link between care, cleanliness, and objects. Research into 1950s adverts showed women consistently positioned at the centre, shaping perceptions of domestic roles. Through object analysis and body-based experimentation with household items, I use bamboo, lace, I created structured forms referencing household fittings, emphasising the bodily burden and exhaustion embedded in domestic labour.
A Woman’s Work
My project draws on historic cleaning advertisements, such as vacuum cleaner commercials, where women are depicted as elegant and well-groomed central figures. This visual language subtly reinforces the idea that domestic labour is women’s responsibility. Reflecting on my childhood, I observed how my mother maintained a clean, orderly home, highlighting the link between care, cleanliness, and objects. Research into 1950s adverts showed women consistently positioned at the centre, shaping perceptions of domestic roles. Through object analysis and body-based experimentation with household items, I use bamboo, lace, I created structured forms referencing household fittings, emphasising the bodily burden and exhaustion embedded in domestic labour.
