At the Flashpoint Gallery in Washington, D.C., a vacuum cleaner and a look-alike of presidential daughter Ivanka Trump, take center stage in a feminist performing art.

Captioned as “Ivanka Vacuuming 2019”, the art piece conceptualized by Jennifer Rubell, shows an elegantly dressed Ivanka Trump look-alike, vacuuming bread crumbs. If perceived as it is, the display appears quite charming. Yet Rubell’s performance art piece takes form as a feminist art. It encourages viewers to take part by throwing more bread crumbs for the Ivanka-model to vacuum clean.

The presentation therefore, carries a message that goes beyond exploring the complicated role of women as a subjugated mother, wife, daughter or employee, despite her attainments and achievements in life.

Use of Vacuum Cleaner in the Performance Art Piece

The use of a vacuum cleaner for one, expresses a faster, more powerful method of cleaning large accumulations of dust and other dirt particles. As a cleaning apparatus, it works by sucking in particles and then collecting the sucked-up dirt in a dust bag.

If the “Ivanka Vacuuming” performance was intended as an advertising campaign, the focus would be on the brand of vacuum Ivanka is using. It could be any model of powerful Oreck vacuums that can suck in not only dust, but also debris and other forms of household wastes.

The use of a vacuum cleaner therefore has significance for its sucking action, simply conveying the act of taking in. Inasmuch as large pieces of bread crumbs are in use, it denotes powerful force; especially if the audience will relentlessly throw bread crumbs for Ivanka to clean up. On that note, it is quite noticeable that the Ivanka look-alike is cheerfully cleaning up bread crumbs strewn all over the carpet.

Currently in politics, “bread crumbs” is the term used to refer to the information being fed by Robert Mueller to the public. Mueller is the former FBI director and special counsel tasked by the Department of Justice, to investigate Russia’s alleged interference in the presidential election that led to Donald Trump’s victory as 45th President of the United States.

Real Ivanka Reacts; Feminist Artist Rubell Responds with an Invitation and Explanation

Apparently displeased with the “Ivanka Vacuuming” display, the incumbent president’s daughter currently working pro bono as Presidential Adviser, wrote her reaction on Twitter. Her statement was directed to Rubell, to whom she said

Women can choose to knock each other down or build each other up. I choose the latter

Rubell responded by extending an invitation to Ivanka to privately view the exhibit so she (Ivanka) can give a more direct response. The feminist artist explained that the performance act is not meant to judge Ivanka. Its primary purpose is to serve as a piece that viewers can explore, in examining their complicity to the role Ivanka is currently playing.