Weekly Selfie 3 | Ana Mendieta | Navdeep Sanghera

Recreated

Ana Mendieta, Untitled: Silueta Series, 1976-1978

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Art that Looks at What Women See Nina Siegal

For Ms. Vischer, they represent points along a line that begins with the moment women were “allowed” to paint and ends in the present, a time when their works are gaining increased appreciation and acceptance in the pantheon of art history.

In reflection of Ms. Vischer's comment, women weren't allowed to paint or, in general, a female artist was denied training and developing their skills it's saddening to know for centuries women artists didn't have the right to be artists. The exhibition "Close-Up" created by Theodora Vischer, offers a space for women artists from a visible timeline from the 19th century to the contemporaneous times. This curated space allows for women of the past to have a chance the recognize their works as they were alienated from the predominantly male artists.   

Overlooked No More: Ana Mendieta, a Cuban Artist Who Pushed Boundaries Monica Castillo

Her outrage over the incident drove her to stage one of her most confrontational and violent pieces, “Rape Scene.”

Ana Mendieta showcases her passion for violence against women and against rape culture. Her personal response was to display a rape the gruesome reality of the end of a rape. She wanted the visitors to be disturbed by the disturbing reality, that nothing was being done as more victims were accumulating. Ana has such passion for sisterhood, in advocating for women of rape, she is a great example of a sister helping other sisters in this world.

Ways Of Seeing John Berger

Paris awards the apple to the woman he finds most beautiful. Thus Beauty becomes competitive. (Today The Judgment of Paris has become the Beauty Contest.) Those who are not judged beautiful are not beautiful. Those who are, are given the prize. 

But the woman's attention is very rarely directed towards him. Often she looks out of the picture towards the one who considers himself her true lover — the spectator-owner.

We can always refer to the past in figuring out the origin to question almost anything as to why it is the norm. Beauty Pagent contest, Miss America, Miss Universe pageant, and models working for high-end fashion companies all derive from the beauty contest with an award for an apple. Take, for example, Kim Kardashian she became famous for her beauty, and she constantly gained likes, and followers, making her a celebrity by societal standards. In these earlier paintings, the woman engages with the male viewer, she showcases her body to the viewer while surveying herself. She is the scenery, to be laid down with eyes on her. These paintings of women objectified them but still, the female model (or the artist's intention) to show the female playing her part in being alluring to the viewer to be gazed upon.