Stephanie Deumer

A Diamond Is Forever explores the fractured and multitudinous enigma of ‘woman’ created by the diamond industry and mass media. Consisting entirely of found footage, including but not limited to commercials, films, and TV shows, the work condenses representations of the extraction, production, circulation, and marketing of precious stones. Diamonds appear literally as well as figuratively, revealing how concepts of nature, commodity, colonialism, and patriarchy are used to both validate and scrutinize women in relation to diamonds.

As part of the work, a diamond was grown in a laboratory from the artist's hair cuttings.

This work was generously supported by Prospect Art’s New Work: Focus on LA grant and a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant.