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Resisting traditional, male-centric view, the show sees women artists offer an alternative.
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What You Need to Know: Opening next month, Amsterdam-based Enari Gallery will present the group exhibition “Moons,” featuring the work of six artists: Johanna Bath, Amy Beager, Maya Fuji, Ariane Heloise Hughes, Minyoung Kim, and Ioanna Limniou. On view from December 2, 2023, through January 20, 2024, the theme of the show, and in turn the works, explore and question ideas around the female gaze, using the moon and lunar symbology as a thematic touchstone. Historically and canonically, the moon is often associated with womanhood, femininity, mystery, and even the sublime—but artistic engagements with the celestial body are largely tethered to the male perspective. Here, artists through their work offer a new line of inquiry, and propose new narratives that stem from radical new vantages.
Why We Like It: One commonality among the works included in “Moons” is that they use the female gaze as a starting point rather than conclusion, highlighting the plurality of perspectives and narratives that come from it—as opposed to the classic male gaze that so often depicts women as immutable objects. Each artist’s work contributes to the overarching theme of the show in unique and distinctive ways: in Minyoung Kim’s Surrealist paintings, a pervasive and watchful ominousness is felt through the addition of expressions on inanimate objects; Beager and Fuji juxtapose contemporary and Classical motifs, accenting enduring perceptions around femininity; and Bath centers strong, independent female figures that evoke inner worlds and intense emotion. Traversing social, cultural, and historical notions and ideas around the feminine, “Moons” offers a glimpse at the multiplicity of lived experience and existence.
According to the Gallery: “The Moon’s role as a source of inspiration for artists underscores women’s enduring presence and influence in the creative realm. It serves as a reminder of women’s significant contributions to shaping artistic expression throughout history, celebrating their lasting impact on the art world. Moons seeks the fusion of artistic vision and thought-provoking discourse, delving deep into the latent complexities surrounding the female gaze, cultural dynamics, symbolism, innovative feminist theory, objectification, diverse perspectives, and representation.
As revealed by the exhibited artworks, the journey of the female gaze starts a conversation that goes beyond just aesthetic contemplation. The artists bravely resist the traditional relegation of women to passive objects of visual consumption, proposing a counter version to the classic male gaze.”
See featured works below.
Arianae Hughes, Its All About (2023). Courtesy of Enari Gallery, Amsterdam.
Ioanna Limiou, Le Bain de Lune (2023). Courtesy of Enari Gallery, Amsterdam.
Johanna Bath, Dreamer (2023). Courtesy of Enari Gallery, Amsterdam.
Maya Fuji, I Wash My Rice Until the Water Is Clear II (2023). Courtesy of Enari Gallery, Amsterdam.
Minyoung Kim, The Great Escape (2023). Courtesy of Enari Gallery, Amsterdam.
“Moons” is on view at Enari Gallery, Amsterdam, December 2, 2023–January 20, 2024.
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