The Ever-Evolving Role of Women in Art
by Justine Griffin
The shape and lure of a woman’s physical form has been the subject of sculptors, painters, lyricists and other artists since ancient times.
Whether it be the disproportional features of the Venus of Willendorf, dating back to 24,000 BCE, the detailed sculptures of Athena and other Greek goddesses during the reign of Ancient Greece, or even Pablo Picasso’s cubism prostitutes in “Les Demoiselles d'Avignon,” women have the subject of scrutiny and awe by the touch of a paint brush.
As a modern society, we like to attribute much of the negativity women face based on their physical forms to the media; blaming what we see in advertisements on television screens and magazine pages is what defines what our bodies should look like and setting the standards on how we should dress. The focus on women in the form of art, however, has taken a different role.
After attending Nude Nite, a traveling annual art exhibit which celebrates the nude form of both male and female, when the exhibit swept Orlando in February, I was able to see first hand how an art movement today does not judge or set standards for women as it may have once did – it embraces the variety of forms we, as human beings, come in today.
The exhibit showcased hundreds of artists from around the country – showing the nude in a variety of ways. One artist showed the characters in Wizard of Oz, including Dorothy and the Wicked Witch in sexual positions. One of my personal favorites was a scantily clad-dressed Dorothy bent over a Twister mat.
Another team of artists created a silent black and white film depicting naked women showing off their bodies and talents in the form of dance. Fully nude and body painted models moved about the old warehouse that was transformed into an enlightened room of culture and art – showing off their bodies in live motion. Other artists performed live trapeze acts, hanging from curtains and swings attached the ceiling.
Artist and activist Linda Stein once said that “art is a powerful force for social change because of its ability to reach people at a visceral level.” I do agree with her fully on this, and believe that exhibits like Nude Nite are not only changing the way women are viewed, but the way “nude” is viewed as well.
Growing up in a Western society, we’ve been spoon fed ideals to repress our sexual needs, and that the nude is a private matter. Nude Nite went against all conservative views to show that our bodies are beautiful, and that we, as humans, and women are beautiful.
Sources:
http://www.nudeniteorlando.com/
http://www.ncrw.org/ncrwbigfive/what-is-the-role-of-art-in-changing-gender-norms
