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4/10/2007

Antea Arizanovic

Galerie Isabelle Gounod, Paris

Identification

Antea Arizanovic is part of the young generation of Slovenian artist who questions the conservatism of a patriarchal society, as well as identity and sexual discrimination. Working with painting, photography, video, objects and performances, her work addresses the political context of an expanded Europe and that of a traditional society.

Arizanovic explores the way the body is perceived in our societies, which are guided by consumption. In which manner are sexuality and eroticism presented and exploited nowadays? In her series of photographs Glamorous Eves, she refers to two of the most emblematic figures of the 20th century: Marilyn Monroe and Madonna. The artist presents herself as a young sophisticated, blond and voluptuous woman. One of her posters advertising the slogan "Be my sponsor" operates between seduction, domination and/or submission with the "voyeur".

Another intriguing figure: an elderly and slender woman with a wrinkled face and dressed as a Playboy bunny, watches us from a theatre box. Must we follow the canons of beauty from her time to seduce or confront reality (in this case, the spectator) to take on the sight of her aging body?

The Beaten Bride is composed of a series of photographs printed on silk pillows with lace embroided portraits of the artist as a young bride. A fake bruise is exaggerated on her face. "By presenting my own face damaged by violence, I wanted to underline women's submission, passivity and endurance in a patriarchal society. Before getting married, women belong to their father, and then becomes the property of their husband. Women must be obedient and discrete as abuse is a form of punishment for all acts of disobedience.

During a performance called Elixir of Transition the artist humorously raises the issue of national identity. Placed behind a counter adorned with flags of Yugoslavia and the European Union, she sells a drink titled Elixir of Transition to passerby's for 1 Euro. This potion, which has "medical" benefits, helps to better understand political and cultural conflicts during an era of important transition but also carries "undesirable" side effects. This performance took place a year before the entrance of Slovenia into the European Union.

Antea Arizanovic was born in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in 1978. She lives and works in Ljubljana.

Image: Antea Arizanovic, Be my sponzor, photogaphie tirage lambda, 1/5, 2005. Courtesy of Galerie Isabelle Gounod

Galerie Isabelle Gounod
4, rue Fessart
92100 Boulogne-Billancourt Paris

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