Concepts of Motherhood
Stella Bach, Maria Bergstötter, Asta Cink, Isabel Czerwenka-Wenkstetten, Die 4 Grazien, Dora Mai, Sarah Iris Mang, Karin Maria Pfeifer, Barbara Philipp, Ness Rubey, Johanna Tatzgern, Agnes Rossa, Dorothée Zombronner
IntAkt - International Action Community of Female Artists / Vienna in cooperation with HilbertRaum and Retramp Gallery
Discussion panel: Saturday, April 22, 2023, 5:30-7:00 pm, HilbertRaum, Reuterstr. 31, 12047 Berlin
Finissage: Sunday, April 30, 2023, 2:00-7:00 pm
Featuring a performance by Mirka Raito "In Deiner Haut / Under Your Skin", 5:00 pm, HilbertRaum, Reuterstr. 31, 12047 Berlin
Duration: until April 30, 2023
Curated by Hannah van Ginkel.
Motherhood Team: Hannah van Ginkel, Agnes Rossa, Dorothée Zombronner
The exhibition "Motherhood I / Concepts of Motherhood" launches a series of exhibitions on motherhood and femininity. The exhibition project is organised by IntAkt Vienna, in cooperation with the HilbertRaum and the Retramp Gallery in Berlin. The works deal with motherhood, menstruation, birth, breastfeeding, everyday life with children during and beyond the pandemic, ageing with children, etc. in various ways. The artistic standpoints, produced by artist mothers and non-mothers, range from personal perspectives and experiences via humorous and experimental works to socio-critical and socio-political statements. An important aim is to show that motherhood is not a topic to be avoided or an obstacle, but can be a source of inspiration. We all have been born of a mother. Everyone is related to this theme, everyone is touched by it in one way or another.
In the commercial and museum arts sector, motherhood seems to be a taboo subject, even today. Female artists are still advised to choose between children and career. Clichés about artists who are mothers are still very strong: as if having a child meant losing their physical self-determination and the necessary energy to create good art. Although art historiography in the field of gender studies thinks about many facets of gender, both the visual arts and art history continue to propagate the myth of the male artistic genius who prefers to create genius masterpieces in a state of intoxication. The aim of this exhibition is to question and deconstruct the myths surrounding male and female attributions in the field of art. The exhibition also points to the social structures that make it difficult for female artists—mothers and non-mothers alike—to make a name for themselves on the art market.
Text: Agnes Rossa