David Nolan Gallery presents an impressive group of works by 70+ artists in an exhibit titled, The Visible Vagina. The show was "designed to make visible a portion of the female anatomy that is generally considered taboo—too private and intimate for public display" and to "remove... prurient connotations" associated with the female body part (from the press release).
The Visible Vagina exhibition and the accompanying catalogue were inspired by Eve Ensler's world-renowned stage hit, The Vagina Monologues in which Ensler "gave voice to countless women worldwide, honoring the complexity and mystery of their sexuality, basically encouraging them to consider their vaginas as powerful and expressive components of their physical selves, something not to be ashamed of, but to be proudly protected as an assertive and positive manifestation of their being."
The show is an empowering homage to women, femininity, and the oft overlooked lady part down below. The strong and positive imagery is encouraging and inspires girl power (and might hopefully deter further use of the annoying term "va-jay-jay").
The exhibit at David Nolan Gallery in Chelsea runs concurrently with an exhibit at Francis M. Naumann Fine Art at 24 West 57th Street, a joint organizer of The Visible Vagina. Sales from the catalogue will be donated to Eve Ensler's organization, V-Day, which fights to end violence against women and girls all around the world. Learn more at Davidnolangallery.com and Francisnaumann.com and vday.org. Through March 20th.
(All pics below taken at David Nolan Gallery.)
Cathy De Monchaux, I saw the past splayed with the skin of my youth (from New Wound Drawing Series No. 2), 2009
Kiki Smith, Untitled, 1995
Neil Gall, Separate Identities, 2009
Man Ray, Torso Color, No Date
Jeff Koons, Waterfall Dots (Origin), 2008
Allyson Mitchell, Hungry Purse, The Vagina Dentata in Late Capitalism, 2006
These photos are a great work of art! Though they merely show genital pictures, they still look very presentable. I think this gallery will be a good place for women to visit, and reflect on those art pieces.
Posted by: Crevan Ferrigno | 05/03/2011 at 02:21 AM