Ida Applebroog
Independence Plaza, 1979-80
Ink and rhoplex on vellum, in two parts
Each: 220 x 160 cm
The two images that together form Independence Plaza (1979-1980) are an early example of American artist Ida Applebroog’s window pieces. These comic-like works show voyeuristic domestic dramas, visible behind half-drawn blinds. The scenes have been used by Applebroog to make sharp social commentary on life in New York City in the 70s and 80s, particularly in relation to gender, sexuality and power.
Independence Plaza is made on vellum, a type of parchment made from calfskin. The material has a translucency which is extra apparent if light shines through the big white blinds that dominate the scenes. When the works were first exhibited in New York in 1980 they were installed in the window frames of the gallery facing the street.
Applebroog has compared drawing to the ease of making instant coffee, but this supposed effortlessness is matched by great technical skill and an ability to challenge the status quo. Over the years it has made her a big player in the feminist art movement where she has also centred discussions around mental health.