Eve Isabella
(She / Her)
As a female artist, it is my duty to speak about the importance of identity and feminism, especially today in our political climate. I use my practice to discuss what it is like being a Woman in the twenty-first century. I create sculptures, paintings and installations. I believe art is a way of communication; it can say things that we can not always put into words. My work is inspired by activism and artists before me, such as Guerrilla Girls to Barbara Kruger to events such as Women In Revolt! Etc. Learning about these artists, reading about there activism, what they stand for and how they did it has influenced me heavily within my practice
The impact that feminism has had on gender representation within the artistic community has been extremely powerful. The representation it has helped create has made a positive change and has started conversations that have been needed throughout history. We are forever evolving, and society over time is becoming more accepting of people who are “different”, and through art, we are creating spaces for people of all shapes and sizes to express themselves and make a change. Feminism in the art world has greatly impacted both cisgender and transgender women; art has helped create unity and understanding over the years. The feminist activist movement brought all women together to bring down the barriers that were trying to divide us. Roey Victoria Heifetz, who is a transgender painter, stated, “The moment you stand in front of the painting, you are experiencing it. It is not about transgender, women, old women… it is about an essence that you cannot define by words.” This quotation is discussing the essence that women should hold in the art world. How art should not be defined by your gender but by the work you create. She is discussing how you should not judge art by the gender of the artist but by the talent and message. Roey is discussing inclusivity and its importance. How artwork can hold a connection without words, and how powerful feminist activism is, especially when sending a message through the art world and how art says the things we can not always express with words.
Without the feminist activist art movement, we would not have the artistic world we have today.
Art would not survive without women. Women would not survive without art.
Art would not survive without Women. Women would not survive without Art.
“Art would not survive without Women. Women would not survive without Art” is about the inclusion of women in the artistic space/world. Women have been heavily let down in the art world, and I believe it is not discussed enough. Art should be a free space and accessible to everybody around us, no matter where you are from, how you were raised, how much money you have and especially not your gender identity. I created these sculptures to represent feminist activism in the artistic community. I wanted to create this shape that represented women, but did not put them in a box; they have been described to me as looking like clay angels.
I used wool and string to take back the sexist undertones and thoughts people have on this material, as it is commonly discussed as a “feminine material” due to the stereotypes of domestic labour. I pleated this material as it is a sign of strength and has been used throughout many different cultures, years of life, achievements for women and was used to go against the patriarchal beauty standards placed onto women. The shape of the wall sculptures is a circle as it is one of the most naturally occuring shapes. I have written a statement to go alongside these sculptures, talking about feminist acticism and why it is so important. The reason it is in pink text is to make it more accessible to read, as I know it can be difficult for people with learning disabilities to read on black ink on white paper ( same reasoning for this page having pink text )
I want this piece to be a rebellion, a statement and hope to a more progressive world inside and outside of the artistic community.
Art Needs Women. Women Need Art.
