ARNHEM.- Museum Arnhem, the Saarlandmuseum in Saarbrücken and the Belvedere in Vienna are joining forces to present a remarkable exhibition that promises to be the highlight of the season. Featuring more than 70 artists from 22 countries, RADICAL! Women Artists and Modernism 1910-1950 explores how profoundly women artists participated in shaping the stories of modernism. The ambitious show challenges the visitor to rethink the idea of modern art as a linear, progressive development, being mainly dominated by men.
Breaking with traditional art historical frameworks allows to combine and juxtapose a diverse and exciting variety of artists, most of them have never been shown together. By spotlighting the individuality of each artist's practice, the show provides a deeper understanding how women artists sought for innovative imagery and form to address the pressing issues of their time. The exhibition shows works, reaching from abstract to figurative, and surrealist to overtly activist.
In a period marked by rapid societal transformation driven by urbanisation and new technologies, women artists utilised a direct pictorial language to encapsulate the essence and challenges of modern life. Their art became an act of defiance against patriarchy, capitalism, fascism, and colonialism. Simultaneously, women artists challenged traditional gender roles, reflecting the complexities of the emancipation movement. By bringing together paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, jewellery and textile designs we honour their visionary approach of an equal valuation of different art forms and media.
Despite progressive, feminist circles advocating for change, patriarchal structures persisted in the art and cultural world. The exhibition explores how the concept of 'gender,' limited to masculinity and femininity, perpetuated unequal power relations and biassed judgments of women's talent. It seeks to investigate how an artist's gender and nationality contributed to the exclusion of women from the canon of modern art crafted by their male counterparts.
Through this ambitious project, the organisers aspire to contribute to a more inclusive portrayal of modern art, showcasing its true diversity and revolutionary spirit. Don't miss the chance to celebrate how women artists have profoundly enriched and transformed the world of Modernism. RADICAL! Women Artists and Modernism 1910– 1950 is a must-see for art enthusiasts, historians, and anyone intrigued by the profound interplay of gender and art in shaping the course of Modernism.
The exhibition will feature works by Zubeida Agha, Gertrud Arndt, Claude Cahun, Elizabeth Catlett, Sonia Delaunay, Marthe Donas, Alexandra Exter, Leonor Fini, Natalia Goncharova, Jacoba van Heemskerck, Hannah Höch, Erika Giovanna Klien, Käthe Kollwitz, Alice Lex- Nerlinger, Jeanne Mammen, Marlow Moss, Alice Neel, Gunta Stölzl, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Charley Toorop, Toyen, Fahrelnissa Zeid and many other trailblazing artists.
The exhibition in the Modern Gallery of the Saarlandmuseum is sponsored by the Kulturstiftung der Länder and Saartoto.
