Cathy De Monchaux

Trolley

1987

In Tate Britain

Walk Through British Art: Sixty Years

Free

Artist: Cathy De Monchaux born 1960
Medium: Mixed media
Dimensions: Stepladder: 1855 × 530 × 1180 mm
Toolbox: 270 × 700 × 475 mm
Collection: Lent by the American Fund for the Tate Gallery, courtesy of Sue Stoffel 2009
On long term loan
Reference: L02858

Display caption

In Trolley, De Monchaux uses a ladder and toolbox, objects associated with stereotypical male occupations. She ‘softens up’ these found objects by adding velvet upholstery. Her work often refers to the body. The contrast of soft, luxurious textiles with cold, hard surfaces also make sexual associations. She has called this ‘a metaphor for the dialogue between all those opposing sides of the human psyche … in your head all the time, as you struggle to appear to be a balanced human being’.

Gallery label, December 2020

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