‘Earth Body’ is a photographic collage series that explores the fluidity of the human body and the natural environment. This work re-centers a peripheral body that does not fit into a traditional gender narrative. For me, this series is about reclaiming power through the representation of an intersectional body (my own body).
Parminder Kaur (she/her)
Hannah Veljanovska (she/her)
@hannahveljanovska
Home Sweet Home
Collage
Representations of the home in mainstream Australian lifestyle magazines conform to a heterosexual, white, binary cisgendered narrative. This collage critiques the construction of these representations and power dynamics in the home.
THE WORLD...
When they look back to prehistoric times, they rationalize that men cared for the family and home. Their physical strength made the work of hoisting babies and laundry easy. While women, with their power to electrocute, were clearly best suited to hunting and protecting the home from threat. In the modern day, they have issues such as: the gender pay gap, one sex considered too emotional to hold a position of power and rape culture; but here: men are the overwhelming victims. What this book allows us to inspect is not just the patriarchy; but more specifically, having power structures based on the idea that one gender has supremacy over the other.
Photo by Mara Braun (she/her)
Through the weaving of these stories, we see many changes in societal organisation. Religion, oppression, safety, sex, politics and more are all investigated in this action-packed read.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CLITORIS IN DISRUPTING THE PHALLIC PHANTASY
The Clit for so long has been omitted from the public imagination and narrative. Yet approximately 50% of our population has one and derives pleasure from it.
Conversely, visual representation of the phallus is omnipresent, with the phallus often represented as being synonymous with strength and power.
Representation of the clit aims to bring the Clit back into the public discourse, so the Clit can embody its true power; not as a foil or contrast to the phallus, but powerful in its own right.
Hannah Veljanovska (she/her)
@The_Lost_Lynx
The Clit
Spray Paint
The female body is inherently powerful. My artwork is a representation of bearing our vulnerability, honesty and the importance of connection to self. To hear, to embrace, to accept, to draw balance from nature’s perfect imperfections.
I opened my chest and gave them my heart in submission.
I opened my mouth but my words were frail, and gutless.
I opened my mind and they fed me lies of their strength and vigour.
I laid myself bare at their feet and they told me I was powerless so that I would stay there.
But I’ve discovered the one thing they never wanted me to.
When I open my legs, nothing but power seeps out.
by Tara Mallia (she/her)
If you’re even slightly curious about what it might be like to contribute to a zine, please consider sending something in for GenZine’s next issue! We love hearing from people who are new to this whole gender/art/zine thing and would be happy to chat should you have any questions. Keep up with all things GenZine on the socials:
