Whitworth Art Gallery - Walls are Talking Wallpaper Exhibition

The wallpapers displayed in this exhibition reflect patterns of gender and sexuality. Some of them were made for commercial purposes and saleable use, for example, Barbie and Batman for children or sexy girls for adults. Often, produced in quantity, cashing in on popular visual themes, these papers reflect the character of contemporary consumption.

Barbie late 1990s
Machine-printed
Manufactured by Vymura plc

Ballet and Barbie, blend of the ultimate in girlish and feminine stereotyping. Combined to show a gendered, cultural idea of physical perfection. Girls like to go to ballet class, inspired by this image. Tiny, fairy sized girls on the image; small is seen as being a trait of feminism. This is stereotyping girls, they should be small and thin. This is an example of the current impact of popular imagery on the body image of young women. This ideal image of thin being perfection can result into girls not accepting their natural physic therefore result in eating disorders. Body image has become even more important over the years, being seen in the media and advertising.

Wallpaper c. 1980s

Surface machine-printed on paper-backed foil

Different shots of Marilyn Monroe, with the names of the films in which she appeared. Most of the roles she was an overtly sexy ‘dumb blonde’ – An image or character she embraced and struggled to shake off during her acting career. The wallpaper is a mechandise which reproduced her image. Like ‘Gibson Girls’ drawings of late nineteenth century, Marilyn represented an American beauty ideal which was, and still is, reproduced the world over.

Montague of images of Marilyn, advertising her films and different roles she has played.

Harry G Cadney

Superstar c. 1974

Hand screen-printed on paper-backed foil

Manufactured by Cadney & Wall for John Oliver Ltd

Explicitly echos Andy Warhols icon depiction of Marilyn Monroe. Pop artists took inspiration from the mass of images in consumer culture, their art often imitating cheaper media. Wallpaper imitated Art, Warhols depiction of the star is reflected back in popular print form in ‘Superstar’. Her face is printed on foil, creating a mirror for the viewer to see their own faces reflected with her image, one that has come to encapsulate an ideal of feminine beauty. Known as the epitome of beauty, everyone knew who she was, with her glamorous style and iconic figure.

Silver foil, she loved to live in the spotlight, foil is used as a metaphor for the bright, shiny lights of Hollywood. Even her death was very public. This image is used repeatedly, even now years later it can be seen. The image still has the same effect on people.

Man United Wallpaper

Merchandise, people buying into the brand. Not just a football team but also a consumer product known worldwide. Showing all the greatest players, epitome of masculinity, fit healthy physic. Boys idolise and want to be them. Aspire to play for a top world known football club when they are older. Masculine colours, red and white.

Spice Girls wallpaper

Same as Man United wallpaper however aimed at girls. The reasoning is mirrored, advertising, brand, merchandise. Girls idolise, want to be like the Spice Girls. All have their own favourite Spice Girl who they imitate or aspire to be. It was a major craze in the late 1990s. Merchandise included everything from wallpaper, to birthday cakes or alarm clocks. The same in culture today with girl bands such as The Saturdays and Girls Aloud.