inVISIBLE:  Exploring and Redefining Femininity through Batik

Held in conjunction with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, this exhibition aims to explore contemporary femininity, redefining femininity into qualities that resonate with the wider community who subscribe to the broad spectrum of womanhood.

This exhibition is a collaboration of aNERDgallery and Together-Gether that was first held from Sat 17 Mar 2018 to Sun 15 Apr 2018 at That Spare Room by The Fabulous Baker Boy. Artworks and all exhibition texts are now available on this page to spread the love for textile arts to more audience.  Do browse the artworks and click on them to learn more about the story and interesting nuggets from the curators. Oh, if you are connected strongly to any piece, they are available for purchase too!

Wish you a great time enjoying the artworks!

Introduction

Art is often used to examine, question and criticise the relationships between gender and society. As the feminist movement gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s, art was used to challenge traditional roles of women in domestic and public spheres, and also to question conventional standards of beauty.

Feminism and femininity are related but in reality are far apart. Feminism is the political movement rooted in the idea of social equality between the different sexes. Femininity is the set of attributes and behaviours that are typically associated with females. While both are socially constructed, femininity as defined by societal norms is often overly restrictive.

Who is allowed to be feminine? Gender can no longer be the sole determining factor because the idea of womanhood is broad and complex. This exhibition attempts to explore and realign femininity with self-identifying women, instead of physical characteristics tied to gender. This redefinition, supported by expressions observed in art and current events, also parallels the study of traditional and contemporary batik pieces.

Two contemporary textile artists, Ratih Artika Dewanti and Tjiplies Pudji Lestari, were invited to showcase some of their works in this exhibition. In an industry that was pioneered and has been dominated by their male peers, it is appropriate that they are the faces of the current movement of inclusivity and representation in batik arts.

Rising from the Ashes

In Chinese culture, the phoenix is associated with female virtues such as grace and charm. However, the phoenix’s ability to be reborn from its own ashes is perhaps the quality that most resonates with today’s concept of femininity. 

In Frida Kahlo’s Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair, we see the artist in her first self-portrait after her divorce. She wears an oversized men’s suit, and has just cut off her long hair. The lock of hair in her left hand symbolises what she has sacrificed. Her right hand holds a pair of scissors, which she has used to relinquishes her femininity (symbolised by her long hair). This portrait seems to express her sense of loss and sadness, but it is also a very clear declaration of self-reliance and independence. 

Rising above destructions, along with the emboldening spirit to construct and reconstruct, have become traits that self-identifying women strongly relate to.

Two of Tjiplies’ works, Metamorphosis and Papaya Inspiration embody the spirit of transformation and resilience. An elegant pair of butterflies emerge from plain-looking caterpillars despite adversities is a reflection of her growth as an artist. In Papaya Inspiration, often disregarded and discarded because of their bitter taste, papaya leaves are actually packed with vitamins and nutrients. Having the leaves more prominent, the artist wishes to highlight a woman’s tenacity to fight till the bitter end.

Featured Artworks

So… What’s next?

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