Scent of a woman

by Genevieve Paiement

Playing with ideas of foot fetishism, consumerism and femininity, artist and author Sharon Kivland snapped shots of ladies' footsies for her photo show le bonheur des femmes. But these are not your average, bulbous, funny-looking extremities, but rather dainty leather-pump-clad feet that carry women around Parisian department stores as they shop for perfume.

German-born Kivland, who divides her time between France and England, explores the notions of consumption and patriarchy as they relate to typically "feminine" attributes. Above her photos of legs and feet float the names of popular perfumes ("Allure," or "Trésor") which allude to these supposed attributes.

A Freudian and feminist scholar, Kivland was supposed to visit our fair city to deliver an artist's talk. Unfortunately, her train derailed on the way to the airport. Although no one was hurt, Kivland's overseas travel plans were thwarted. Go the vernissage anyway, today, Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. The exhibit is up until Feb. 10 at La Centrale (460 Ste-Catherine W., #506). Info: 871-0268.

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