Unforeseen

Page 19

Artist Spotlight: The Guerrilla Girls

By Riddhi Kanetkar

The subjectivity of art lends itself the opportunity to exhibit a wide range of genders, cultures and movements in an equalising manner. Why then, has the art industry become so notorious for its lack of representative diversity in galleries, collections and auctions? The Guerrilla Girls are an all-female group of artist activists who have aimed to redress this issue since the mid-1980s. Formed in New York City in 1985, the group are renowned for their efforts in raising awareness about sexism and racism in the art world. They also sport gorilla masks and the names of deceased female artists, because they believe that the movement is bigger than their individual identities. From producing posters, billboards and even stickers, not only have they sought to subvert the homogeneity of artists acquired by collectors, but also the style of art. Their core aims are: “An intersectional feminism that fights discrimination and supports human rights for all people and all genders. We undermine the idea of a mainstream narrative by revealing the understory, the subtext, the overlooked, and the downright unfair.� Their art is notable for its deviation from traditional methods to more contemporary forms which utilise typography and writing. Although some have critiqued their seemingly plain stylistics, they have chosen to privilege a conceptual style of art, which places subject matter at the forefront of their artistic practices. We can see this resonate in the vast majority of their work, which is also often underscored by a message of feminist, political satire.

Photo: The Guerrilla Girls, via National Museum of Women in the Arts

Grater Expectations

19


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Unforeseen by The Cheese Grater - Issuu