Guileless and Monstrous

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: 'Guieless and Monstrous' is a feature essay published in the peer-reviewed scholarly journal Artlink (ERAID 35835). Its focus is the Ray Harris' 2013 video art work, 'She Splutters in the Darkness' andf the cultural imagery of women presented in this work. It also places the work of Rae Harris and Celeste Aldahn in the context of new trends in feminist art, RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: In this theoretical feature essay, Peers argues that 'She Splutters Darkness' indicates the new currency and credibility of feminist art, and foregrounds the guises and stratagems of feminist art practice's latest manifestations. Peers discusses Harris' work by drawing on art theoretical writing of Creed, Kristeva and others, informed by her wide knowledge of art history and popular culture. Harris is an Australian artist whose reputation is rapidly consolidating.This is the first article in a refereed journal discussing her cutting edge, incisive practice. Harris has exhibited at the AEAF, SASA Gallery; CACSA (Adelaide), Sawtooth (Launceston), Boxcopy (Brisbane), InFlight (Hobart) Next Wave (Melbourne) Supermarket Art Fair (Sweden) and Gil and Moti Homegallery, (Netherlands) Pirimid Sanat (Turkey). Her work is held in The Borusan Collection and Project 4L- Elgiz Museum Collection, Turkey. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: The significance of this essay is demonstrated by its publication in Artlink, a peer-reviewed publication which is independently edited and published by Artlink Australia Artlink covers contemporary art in Australia and through its networking with the national and international scene, provides a context for evaluation and analysis. It regularly produces Special Issues on specific areas, and undertakes major theme-based features, highlighting the relationship of the visual arts and design to broader social, political and philosophical issues.This issue centres upon gender. Peers is one of five academics that serves on the Artlink Editorial Advisory Committee.