Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, 2013 – 2014
Pretty, passive princesses; wicked, warty witches, evil stepmothers and jealous sisters overwhelmingly structure the stories of dated and modern Western fairytales as well as video games and mainstream fantasy films. Sometimes girls and women are absent altogether. How might this shape the perceptions of children regarding the ‘nature’ and desires of girls, boys, and their interactions? Such a deeply enforced heteronormative binary leaves little freedom for diverse gendered and sexual identities, such as female masculinities and lesbian attraction. With a twist to the traditional, images and phrases from a collection of recent and classic children’s books, photographs from National Geographic magazines, and found materials such as cicada wings playfully converge upon unfamiliar contexts within these collages.
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “The clash of steel rang out as the powerful princess fought the Beast”
Mixed media collage
Price: $60
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “‘I shall eat you this minute’ roared the creature – as quick as a cat she whirled around and chopped the beast in two”
Price: $60
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “Stardust flickered in the gloom – poison chocked the air – he let out a growl that would have frightened the bravest of soldiers. The fierce young woman snarled with passion ‘I’ll bow to no man'”
Mixed media collage
Price: $60
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “And with a smile she took her hand'”
Mixed media collage
Price: $60
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “The brave young girl stood stiffly at attention with a mischievous twine in her eye”
Mixed media collage
Price: $60
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “Safe with me my love'”
Mixed media collage
Price: $60
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “In the middle of a dark, moonlit wood she was spellbound by her wit and grace – she fell deeply in love with her and the couple soon married.”
Mixed media collage
Price: $60
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “Thunder echoed and the earth trembled – surrounded by a blaze of light she began her adventure…”
Mixed media collage
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “Soon they left the city and wandered into the desert beyond. There she found the Beast and drew her sword”
Mixed media collage
Price: $60
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “There was a tremendous flash and the roar became louder and louder”
Mixed media collage
Price: $60
Desiree Tahiri
Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails, series of 12, 2013 – 2014
Reads: “She was extremely clever, brave and spent her time getting up to mischief”
Mixed media collage
Desiree Tahiri 