The idea to hold this Poznań-based exhibition emerged several years ago. Over time, the artists engaged through Zoom, sharing experiences, perspectives, and artwork in virtual studio meetings. Participants include Tobia König, Kathrin Landa, Verena Landau, Justine Otto, Cornelia Renz, Eva Schwab, Anija Seedler, Tanja Selzer, Bettina Sellmann, Anke Völk, Nina K. Jurk and Isabelle Dutoit, Maria Kiesner, Julia Medyńska, Malwina Niespodziewana, and Joanna Pawlik. The exhibition is curated by Bogna Błażewicz.
One might question whether the artists' backgrounds influenced the exhibition's final form. and whether, as the title suggests, everything personal is inherently driven by politics. It would be naive to claim that politics doesn't affect people's personal lives. Most people, no matter what their personal beliefs, would agree with the exhibition's claim that "The female body, a timeless theme in painting used in many of the displayed works, has long been a battleground for political disputes."
Yet, those expecting a boldly provocative exhibition or one solely focused on critical messages at the expense of form and technique will likely be disappointed. And fortunately so.
So, what kind of art are we seeing? Thoughtful and mature. Each artist brings a distinctive style and perspective. Amidst a wide range of inspirations, themes, and artistic explorations, many make historical references. The human body is not the dominant motif. Even when it takes centre stage, it resists being boxed into narrow interpretations.
These paintings tell stories. Some, like Isabelle Dutoit's works depicting wild animals-wolves and a lynx-evoke tales drawn straight out of legends and myths whose rich symbolism reflects the real world. Those who have read "Women Who Run with the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estés might find echoes of the Wild Woman archetype in her work.
The artists boldly engage with tradition. Kathrin Landa's portraits, for instance, subtly reference classical portraiture adding unconventional attributes-girls posing not with flowers or hats but with rats and snails.
Eva Schwab's "La Reconnaissance" series cleverly dialogues with historical representations of women, particularly from the Renaissance. The wordplay between "reconnaissance" and "Renaissance" feels deliberate. In fact, Schwab often revisits traditional modes of presentation and ideals of beauty in her broader body of work.
Justine Otto's vibrant, expressive painting harks back to various avant-garde movements that challenge academic art conventions. Yet this is no mere imitation-it is interpretation. Drawing from historical styles may seem ironic in a field historically dominated by men. However, these women engage in creative discourse not as mere pupils or rebels against everything that came before but as equal contributors. Neither stance is inherently negative.
The exhibition also features Nina K. Jurk's minimalist, poetic landscapes, striking in their seemingly restrained yet skilful use of colour. Julia Medyńska's paintings captivate like film stills-drawing viewers into unsettling stories that invite interpretation without offering clear resolutions.
"Zooom. Personal is political" defies stereotypes about women's art-perhaps even surpassing its creators' original intentions. This is not an overtly political exhibition, nor is it blindly critical of art history's long-established traditions. By challenging tradition and forging new formal and thematic paths, these women artists affirm their confident place in the art world. They observe their surroundings with intent, unconstrained by imposed topics or societal expectations about what their art and lives should address.
author: Justyna Żarczyńska
translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski
Exhibition: Zooom. Personal is political
Arsenał GaMA Municipal Gallery, open until 23 March
© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2024