Interview with the creator of the Women's Art project.

Women's Art project logo - Reworking of Ana Mendieta's work

The creator of the Women's Art project, internationally well-known and massively followed on social media, likes to stay anonymous - the project was never about her but about a lack of global and historic female representation. She comes from a background of  'DIY' (do it yourself) ethics and activism....which means tackling problem that often authorities ignore. This can mean working individually or in small communities to combat social problems or injustices. In terms of art, she felt that the mainstream gallery systems are too male centric and also too white and too Western in their promotions. Her idea was to start an online gallery to combat this elitism and Twitter is a suitable platform. Social media also is very accessible to a range of people unlike museums which can alienate some. Now, the interview! (here's the link to the interview in Spanish).

1. The Women’s Art project works as an online gallery that aims to combat the Western, androcentric elitism in art History. How did you first come to the realization that it was a necessity to create such an art project, and how has the public reacted to Women’s Art online platform? What’ve you learnt through the years of uploading the Women’s Art project social media, regarding both art History and the contemporary art scene?

In my academic life I discovered very early on that the art history I was being educated on was being defined as Western, white and male. Despite attempts to look at aspects of this bias, art by anyone else, including half the global population - women, was being treated as a minority subject. In my own time I began researching the subject. The idea to share it via social media seemed like a way to create a framework and resource for the research and to share it. I soon found that there was an audience who were interested, perhaps involving many who weren’t necessarily into tradition galleries, but just curious-which is great. What I’ve learnt is that people seem very ready for some fresh perspectives and also that women’s creative talents are boundless, innovative and often courageous.

2. When it comes to women artists, being women is not always the only source of invisibility and silencing. Multiply marginalized women artists are often used to seeing their rage and general emotionality met with an invalidating mix of misogyny and racism, ableism or transphobia. How do you think projects such as Women’s Art can help uplift the voices and artistic creations of those who can even feel alienated from mainstream feminism and the feminist art scene? Which are the specific issues multiply marginalized women artists might be facing regarding their artistic creation and subjectivities?

I start from the premise that all women are marginalised because of the fact of being women, and all have an equally valid story regarding their art and their womanhood. Within that, of course multi-layered marginalisation exists. The idea has been to represent a broad spectrum of art and ideas which in turn may indicate cultural or historic or personal meaning on the artist’s own terms. But interestingly, this has also uncovered many threads that bind women together, whether experientially or biologically, in globally shared themes and subject matter. I think social media can act as an amazingly accessible platform for many people who feel alienated from all areas of mainstream culture - if used positively. Being given space to have a voice is one of the main issues all marginalised people face.

3. You come from a background of ‘Do It Yourself’ ethics and activism. How do you think person-to-person actions and political organization in small, marginalized communities that are often portrayed as powerless or uneducated by mainstream media can fight systemic violence such as the patriarchy or white supremacy? How does this kind of political organization relate to the art scene, to you?

I think small scale activism is extremely important, so much comes out of humble beginnings. I don’t think you can change the world over night, but you can improve your own little bit of it. In terms of art it can translate into a million actions and ideas. I’ve personally been involved in creating arts events highlighting women’s art and music, multicultural arts groups, zines, banner making, refugees’ groups, girl’s music workshops, skill sharing etc…the possibilities are endless. The point is to do something if you can, rather than not. When we look at US feminist and African American artists from the 1970’s for example, people who were excluded from mainstream arts scene created their own studios, exhibitions and publicity. Well-known artists such as Faith Ringgold, Judy Chicago and Louise Bourgeois all came from that background.

4. In the last few years, we have witnessed the highlighting of past women artists such as Frida Kahlo both by feminist movements and the women’s art scene and even by mainstream media (i.e. companies, worldwide fashion brands, etc). I hesitate to call this “empowering” in the sense that there is often an alienation of the public regarding the polarized portrayals of such women artists, whose political ideas and artistic journey are to me even emptied of their deep contradictions and radicalness. How do you feel towards such a growing trend of uplifting History’s overlooked women artists, and do you think there is a way for feminists today to pay respect to their more honest memory meanwhile spreading knowledge about their artwork?

I see the capitalist fetishization of certain women artists certainly, like Frida Kahlo. There’s also a contemporary trend towards revisionism, to mould historical figures dishonestly to suit modern ideas and ideologies. Both are robbing people of their true legacy. While it is extremely important to highlight those who have had their histories supressed, I think we have to act with great respect to the known facts and context.

5. When it comes to the contemporary women art scene, in which ways do you think the art world and business have gotten better for us and in which ways does it still have to radically improve and evolve?

Capitalism can commodify anything and ‘women artists’ as a fashionable product is no different. I would like to say that all is fine for women now, but many of the specific oppressive conditions women have faced in the artworld and beyond, still exist.  I do see attempts to address certain issues such as gallery representation for example, but still so far to go. I think things need to improve in the whole of society, as art isn’t separate from the rest of culture, obviously. Women, however, are continuing to create amazing artworks, never the less.

6. Do you feel like there have been any major changes in what’s more often represented and the ways in which it is represented when it comes to contemporary women’s art in comparison to more traditional women’s artwork? Is there a kind of trans-historical alliance linking such diverse artist through their different backgrounds, cultural upbringings and time lapses?

Yes, in Western terms, the scope of women’s artwork has widened as women’s roles have evolved and expanded. There are still genres to which women are more or less connected. There are still recurring themes relating to women’s lives, in the private realm while the public realm still struggles to offer female artistic recognition. As I said earlier, I do find definite links between the work of women globally and historically which conveys a certain shared experience unique to women.

7. Finally, I would like to ask you about your personal favorites – who are the women artists who have more profoundly shaped your approach to womanhood, feminist resistance, art consumption and creation?

I’m inspired by too many women to mention, not just the famous ones, but often women who just want to be creative in whatever way they can and whatever way is accessible to them. The resourceful ones, the fighters, those who don’t take no for no answer…I have much respect for them all.

I hope that answers your questions.