Gillian Wearing-I'm Desperate

Gillian Wearing was born in 1963 in Birmingham. She is an English conceptual artist. She moved to London to study art at the Chelsea School of Art and later went on to Goldsmiths College.
Gillian Wearing is known as a very private and shy person, but most of her works are about revealing to the public very intimate thoughts and feelings. She is also considered very enthusiastic. One of her most famous works is this picture which is known as "I'm desperate". A very well-mannered, well-dressed man is holding a sign that apparently indicates that he's desperate. This is strange because in my opinion, the man doesn't look too desperate. I like her work because she is very unique and different. It makes people have a different outlook on things, which is why she is considered a very good conceptual artist.

-O.D.


Wearing is such a good artist because her works contain greater meaning. Take "I'm desperate" as an example, Nothing from the photo seems desperate except of course the actual sign. Other then that nothing seems desperate. The man is clean, has a nice suit, isn't a bad neighborhood, and almost seems rich. But, we are are thrown off because he is holding a sign that implies he isn't rich, he's desperate. Her art is very moving and has an underlying theme that brings out a different reaction then what is being shown. "I'm desperate" does a very good job at this and that is why I think Wearing is such an outstanding artist.

- Owen