Pro Femina

Curated by:
Kostis Christidis

Contemporary Art Museum of Crete
32 Mesologgiou Str., Rethymnon

Opening: Friday November 15, 2024 at 7 - 9 p.m.

 

The Contemporary Art Museum of Crete continues its exploration of women's contributions to art, following the exhibition Strong in Time, which featured Rena Papaspyrou and Aspa Stassinopoulou. Pro Femina focuses on female artists from the museum's permanent collection. The exhibition’s title, selected by curator Kostis Christidis, is inspired by the iconic poem Pro Femina by the American poet Carolyn Kizer. The poem serves as both a tribute to womanhood and a profound social critique of women’s roles in society.

Kizer’s poem explores the challenges, contradictions, and expectations associated with being a woman, while commenting on societal and cultural structures that have historically oppressed women. Although written decades ago, Kizer’s poem remains relevant, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for respect and full recognition of women's identities and experiences.

In a world that demands constant adaptation and active participation, complacency and indifference can have serious personal and collective consequences. It is vital to recognize and confront these complexities and contradictions, reaffirming universal values and embracing a vision of renewed humanism through the transformative power of art.

Since the 1960s, art has been a potent medium for addressing issues such as gender inequality, violence against women, and systemic oppression. Pioneering artists like Judy Chicago, Cindy Sherman, Mary Kelly, and Barbara Kruger tackled these themes, shaping the feminist art movement. Their pioneering contributions continue to influence new generations and foster a more inclusive and diverse artistic landscape.

Despite the significant progress, inequalities persist, requiring ongoing efforts to amplify the voices of women and marginalized groups both in the art world and society at large. The Pro Femina exhibition, named after a Latin phrase which means "in favour of women," serves as both an act of advocacy and a tribute to the diverse nature of womanhood. The participating artists explore the multifaceted complexity of female identity, highlighting issues such as social expectations, stereotypes, the intersectionality of gender with race, class, sexuality, and life cycles.

The exhibition presents a rich variety of artistic endeavors, each offering unique perspectives, ideas, and interpretations. The works are multifaceted fragments and narratives that capture the raw, visceral energy of violent and convulsive bodily movements, alongside fragmented depictions of both mental and physical pain. They delve into emotional turmoil and profound introspection, uncovering the depths of the human soul. In contrast, some pieces radiate with vibrant expressions of hope and resistance, reflecting moments of clarity, emotional intensity, and resilience. These works evoke a sense of liberation, reconciliation, or even redemption.

Furthermore, the exhibition prompts a philosophical contemplation on the unity of existence, inspired by Parmenides’ philosophy of "all is one." This principle underscores the unity, homogeneity and indivisibility of the world, encouraging viewers to ponder the coherence that underpins existence and binds humanity.

Apart from the emblematicSilia Daskopoulou, the following artists participate in the exhibition with their artworks: Antoinetta Angelidi, Roya Amigh, Irene Apergis, Eygenia Apostolou, Kalliopi Assaryotaki, Dina Balona, Bia Davou, Voula Gounela, Nadia Kalara, Niki Kanagini, Maria Karametou, Popi Krouska, Dimitra Lazaridou, Maria Loizidou, Eleni Lyra, Despo Magoni, Despina Meimaroglou, Stella Mimikou, Eleni Michailou, Chariklia Mytara, Hijo Nam, Maria Nikiforaki, Leda Papakonstantinou, Antonia Papatzanaki, Spyridoula Politi, Sofia Portalaki, Rania Rangou, Marianne Strapatsakis, Lili Stroumpouli, Popi Tsoukatos, Athanassia Vidali, Maria Ziaka.

The exhibition will be open until April 30, 2025.

Contact:
CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM OF CRETE
Municipality of Rethymnon - Directorate of Culture - Directorate of Museums
32 Mesologgiou Str., 74 100 Rethymnon
T: +30 28310 52530 | E-mail: info@cca.gr | http\\:www.cca.gr

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