Natural vs Artificial Beauty: The Work of Rachel Mahlke

I have long admired Rachel Mahlke's work on Etsy (aka giddyspinster). I was planning to do an interview with her on this blog, but her work obviously had no need for my attention; as I am writing these lines, she is a Featured Seller on the front page of Etsy! One of the most well-deserved features, I'd say.

Devil Woman. stiletto cactus planter

Bambi. reclaimed succulent stiletto planter

International buyers reclaimed stiletto cactus succulent planter

Vamp. stiletto succulent planter

What strikes me most about her work is that the minute you see her stiletto planters, you get the message. In using old stilettos, Rachel focuses on how contemporary images, symbols rather, of artificial beauty have influenced our ideas of what is beautiful. And she juxtaposes that with the natural beauty of plants that possess rare and wild beauty, strength and the ability to survive in hard conditions. Mahlke thus makes a statement: she challenges the connection of female beauty with artifice or pain, and invites us all to question this connection 'imposed' to us by popular culture icons. And it's not just art for art's sake: Her planters are actually functional. And ecofriendly, since she recycles plastic stilettos!

tiny reclaimed cactus planter manipulator gel container

feminism on a stick

Blowback

It's nice to see this artist experiment with other objects connected with female beauty, too. She manages to communicate her message very successfully every time! Don't you just love her?