It's amazing what you find when you follow over 850 blogs. I came across these intricate lipstick sculptures by Hong Kong-based artist May Sum courtesy of Refinery 29. Move over, Paul & Joe kitty lipsticks!
May Sum started her career as a beauty reporter, then evolved into a makeup artist. About two years ago she carved her first makeup sculpture from a stick of concealer, and from there expanded to lipsticks and cream blush. In October 2012 she had her own exhibition in Shanghai's Wheelock Square, one of the city's tallest buildings. "Reflecting her colorful imagination and passion, May’s carvings represent many aspects of a lady's life, while also mapping women's social progress over the past century. There is a cat, a doll, dresses, high heels, saucers, alphabets and even fashion accessories, such as a small purse, each meticulously carved into the head of a lipstick." Sum also hosted a day of makeovers, "encouraging every lady at Wheelock Square to use [makeup] as a way to help realize both her personal and professional dreams." To my feminist self the location of the exhibition seems a little patronizing. The majority (60%) of office workers in the building are women, and the exhibition was held "in recognition and celebration of the importance of lipstick for so many of its tenants." An office building full of women professionals? Surely they'll love a lipstick exhibition, because, you know, all women are crazy about lipstick! Another exhibition press release states, "[Lipstick is] an indispensable part of the modern female professional's life–it is a most intimate and faithful friend. Different shades and brands, worn at different stages of life, can record a woman’s career path and key milestones of her life. No matter her position, whether intern or senior executive, and no matter in what kind of professional occasion a lady’s lipstick stays close at hand. As well as in her handbag, at least one stick of her favored color is likely to be found tucked inside her desk, laptop bag and luggage, just in case." Wait, what? I work with a staff that's almost entirely women and only 2 of them besides me wear lip color of any kind (and it's not a regular occurence either.) So it strikes me as rather presumptuous to assume all professional women are into makeup.
Having said all that, I still love the sculptures themselves. May Sum's newest exhibition, "Woman Power" was held this past August at an art gallery in Hong Kong – it's a much better venue, and as the sculptures are of influential women in fashion and entertainment, it has a more empowering stance than the 2012 exhibition.
Here's Coco Chanel in a chic beige:
Audrey Hepburn in a vibrant pink:
Anna Wintour in a sophisticated rose:
Twiggy in a mod pinkish-nude:
And Lady Gaga in a surprisingly understated peach:
There were many others as well; in the picture below, Vivienne Westwood and Iris Apfel are on the left. I'm not sure who are the right two are, but the one second from the right looks like Marilyn Monroe, possibly?
I love Madonna from her Blonde Ambition days (second from left):
May Sum has also done landscapes and other beautifully detailed designs.
(images from sneakhype.com and astairwaytofashion.com)
As for interpretation of her work, May Sum leaves it up to the viewer. “People may be attracted by my sculptures thinking they are cute. Whether they can read more into them, and think deeply about consumerism and luxury depends on the individual," she says in an interview. While I think initially May Sum's pieces were more about the novelty of sculpting objects out of lipstick, they seem to have evolved into a more high art concept. Perhaps it's a commentary on the ever-changing relationship between women, beauty standards and power, or a convergence of an object usually associated with a woman's femininity and iconic women who re-shape or defy traditional beauty and fashion ideals.
Want one of your own? If you visit her Etsy shop, you can have anything you want sculpted into a lipstick, even your own likeness! It's not cheap (prices range from $450-$650) but I love the idea of having a custom-sculpted lipstick. I would probably have it shaped into one of my beloved museum staff members. ;)
What do you think? Is this a gimmick or art?