Penny Slinger: Out of the Shadows

Penny Slinger: Out of the Shadows is an eye-opening documentary from 2017 exploring the life and art of British artist Penny Slinger. Primarily known for her work in the genres of feminist art and surrealism, Slinger has remained largely unknown to the broader public, despite her groundbreaking works. Director Richard Kovitch seeks to remedy this situation by producing a film that illuminally highlights Slinger's significant contributions to the art world.

In the early parts of the film, we are introduced to Penny Slinger's artistic journey and the many societal obstacles she faced as an avant-garde woman artist in the 1960s and 1970s. The audience is captivated by Slinger's remarkable talent and resolve in a pursuit to express her inner self and potent messages through her art within a predominantly male-dominated field. The film is facilitated by interviews with Slinger herself, providing intimate insight into the artist's motivation, experiences, and unyielding spirit that fuelled her art and continues to do so.

Penny Slinger: Out of the Shadows carefully uncovers not only the artist’s life but also provides an illuminating analysis of her intricate body of work. You are transported back to 1960s London, as the documentary delves deep into Slinger's collaborative efforts with filmmaker Peter Whitehead and artist and filmmaker Jack Bond. The director has done an excellent job amalgamating archival footage and interviews which capture the spirit of the era and Slinger's artistic endeavors within it. The stream of consciousness approach of the narrative, reflective of Slinger’s work, immerses you in the multidimensional, complex universe of the artist and her avant-garde contemporaries.

A substantial segment of the documentary elucidates Slinger's most recognized work, "An Exorcism," which is a collage series that Slinger started in the 1970s. Slinger identifies that the series was an effort to exorcise fears and restrictions tethered to her upbringing and societal norms. It's a powerful exploration of identity and womanhood. The elaborate treatment of "An Exorcism" provides viewers a chance to grasp the depth and breadth of Slinger's bold vision and creative prowess.

Another intriguing aspect of the documentary is the exploration of Slinger's fascination with Eastern philosophies, mythologies, spiritualism, and sexuality. We witness how these interests manifested in her art, amplifying its peculiarity and distinctiveness. It reflects the artist's lifelong effort to merge art with spirituality in search of self and transcendence.

The film also spends a significant amount of time discussing Slinger’s decision to withdraw from the British art scene at the height of her career. The reasons for this abrupt departure and how this shaped her later life and work make for compelling viewing. It demonstrates the problematic tug-of-war an artist faces between personal expression and public expectation.

Slinger, Whitehead, and Bond, each a creative genius in their rights, provide candid and deeply thought-provoking discussions, interspersed with discussions from art critics and historians. The recollections from the characters themselves breathe life into the narrative and make the past feel palpably present.

Filmed over six years, Penny Slinger: Out of the Shadows is a meticulously crafted narrative that deftly brings to focus a pioneering spirit insufficiently acknowledged for far too long. Throughout, director Richard Kovitch manages to keep the focus on Slinger’s artistic journey, serving to create an empowering commentary on a woman breaking free from societal constraints and expressing her innermost desires and fears through the medium of her art.

Complete with stunning visual imagery and a mesmerizing soundtrack, Kovitch's film illuminates Slinger’s universe in such an evocative way that it’s almost like watching a particularly engrossing piece of art. It’s an artist’s incredible journey to the core of herself and a study of a fascinating era that challenged norms and conventions.

Penny Slinger: Out of the Shadows presents the life, work, and enduring legacy of a singular artist, whose vision continues to resonate today. It is an absorbing deep-dive into the world of an artist who is as enigmatic as her art and a must-watch for art lovers and those fascinated by explorations into individual self-expression and societal taboos.