discussion

I would like to start a discussion about gender in the arts.

How is it possible that 70% of the students in artschool are female and it are mostly the male graduates who succeed?
What does the fact that the fine art department does not have a single female teacher in the permanent faculty say?
Should gender be an integrated part of your work?
Is it possible to be a woman an not deal with gender issues?
Do woman not have the ultimate need to create work because they can bare children, and create life?
Is this a sexist remark?

This are things that I was wondering about, being raised by a single mum in the eighties.

She has very Strong sense of being independent and thinks in terms of us and them. I like to regard myself as a human-being more than male or female. In my experience its however almost in possible not to particapate in the discussion about gender. Twist or turn I am a young woman, and my work will be percieved diffrently once this is known. should I hide, protest or just play along?

I’m curious about your opinion.

ps. Here is the link to the guerillagirls, it gives more statistics and a clear humours take on the curator’s and the art market.

http://www.guerrillagirls.com/interview/index.shtml

Inspired by a concept by Hussein Chalayan.

From Xuena He

“La Tour Montparnasse offre la plus belle vue de Paris : c’est en effet le seul endroit d’où on ne la voit pas…” - The tower offers the best view of Paris, as it is the only place from which you cannot see it.’

Eiffel Tower from the Montparnasse Tower

Montparnasse Tower from the Eiffel Tower

David Goldblatt

Windmills for sale, Ventersburg, Free State, 6 August 2003

I saw the above photo at the Stedelijk Museum on Monday, and I suddenly was puzzled as regards to the relation between these windmills and the infamous wind turbine electricity generators –

Somehow these tiny things look so delicate and refined, and do not seem to disturb the grey, dull landscape. They are for sale, indicating people actually do want to go out and buy them, and will use them for something – It is doubtful those shown in the photograph will do anything but turn, but will rather just amuse people and show how fast and from where the wind is from.

We will never entirely rely on wind power or completely green energy, so if we all had a couple of these things, and perhaps even a solar panel on the roof, wouldn’t that spare us the need for massive controversy in our ‘backyards’?

Who decides on whether massive turbines can or cannot pop up and whether people want them in-their-backyards? – My thoughts lead me to think: let’s put a few wind turbines on the front porch next to Granny, or in the living room next to the sofa by the window – the kids will love it!