February 2024: 5 Exhibitions to See
A round-up of five brilliant exhibitions to keep an eye on during February 2024, featuring work by leading women in photography....
Courtesy Christine Pichler
Renate Bertlmann
Renate Bertlmann’s work flows from a single point of genesis: amo ergo sum (I love, therefore I am). Born in Vienna in 1943, Renate’s work was part of the 1970’s feminist avant garde that explored topics such as patriarchal violence and a feminine visual language in tandem to second wave feminist thought. Departing from the typical feminst avant garde response, Renate’s work deconstructs the patriarchy and the “phallocracy” using humour: “I thought it was more directional and also more subversive to look ironically and in a cartoonish manner – akin to a guided laser – at the phallus in order to disarm it”, she shared in a 2015 Tate interview.
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Renate ‘s ironic laser also pierces the topic of the gender binary, which Bertlmann explores through the use of fetishistic textures and sexual paraphernalia. In Gentle Touches (1974), she photographs inflated condoms, evoking intimacy, sexuality, and tenderness, a particular focus of her work.
Renate has received many accolades for her boundary-pushing take on the feminist avant garde, including the Theodor Körner award (1978), the Z-Promotional Award (1980) and the Promotional Award of the City of Vienna (1989). In 2017, she was awarded the Grand Austrian State Prize, and most recently exhibited her work Discordo Ergo Sum at the 2019 Venice Biennale.
by Sophie Coldicott
MALEVOLENCE
GLOUCESTER EXHIBITION: MALEVOLENCE - challenging society's attitudes to gender-based violence and continuing the campaign for its elimination....
Support
MALEVOLENCE aims to raise greater awareness of gender-based violence and contribute to campaigning for its elimination. Here are some organisations and contacts who may offer help if you're affected by any of these issues...
16 Days of Activism 2023
Throughout the 16 days of activism, we have posted about the work of women photographers who are highlighting violence against women in its many different forms, read their stories here....
Knife Rose: Renate Bertlmann
To coincide with the arrival of the Knife Angel – the National Monument for Serious Violence - we have acquired a Knife Rose, thanks to the support of the Stronger, Safer Gloucester Partnership...
16 Days of Activism 2022
16 days of activism for the elimination of violence against women...
A Feminist Avant-Garde
Featuring, among others, Contemporary Heroines Renate Bertlmann, VALIE EXPORT, ORLAN, Cindy Sherman, Annegret Soltau, Nil Yalter, and Marianne Wex; and Historical Heroines Ana Mendieta, Martha Rosler, and Francesca Woodman....
Unbreakable
UNBREAKABLE: WOMEN IN GLASS – ORLAN and Renate Bertlmann feature in new exhibition...
