By Azeeza Rawat
Edited by Imaan Moosa
For many decades, feminist art has been a powerful tool used to amplify the voices of women and those marginalized. While technology has advanced and mediums of art have evolved, the message of feminist art has remained the same. Leanne Berger, also known as Leanne Van on Instagram, is an illustrator, and activist. Leanne gives To EmpowHER insight into the world of feminist art in a contemporary and digital age.
She’s talented for a female.
That woman artist.
Separate from the male.
Who is the true artist?
Look at your description
Highlighting gender because it carries so much weight
Implying she is ‘other’ through a pretense of innocent diction
That’s the woman’s fate.
Yes, it’s true.
Women have turned to canvas, to clay, to anything they can get their hands on to tell their stories. Just like men, they create art. But unlike men, it’s made clear that it’s ‘women’s art’, which often creates a gendered category that suggests less serious and less complex art.
But there is no such thing as women’s art. Art is not gendered. And art created by a woman is not the same as feminist art. Feminist art is a movement, it is a vessel of change. What matters is the message of the art, not the creator.
Sexism in the art industry
To understand the need for feminism and feminist art, it is important to highlight some significant gender discrepancies in the art industry. Before women began fighting for equality at large, and in the art world, women were regularly rejected from showcasing their artworks at galleries or exhibitions because they were women.
Art collections by female artists only make up a small percentage of art showcased in prestigious permanent art collections in many first-world countries. The gender pay gap is disappointingly prevalent in the art industry, and art created by women sells at lower and discounted rates at art auctions compared to men.
However, sexism in the art industry is not new; it has its roots in history. Women were only allowed to train and work as professional artists after the 1870s, which is shockingly recent, seeing as men had been painting professionally for centuries already.
In many arguments, this gender gap is explained as cultural, and not biological. The content of the artwork and the mediums used have been attributed to the work of female artists selling for less. However, a question then arises. Why are the common characteristics of art created by women undervalued, such as the use of textiles?
Other arguments propose that much of the gender discrimination perpetuated in the art world is due to the fact that male artists are plainly and simply preferred and favored over female artists. This sexism in the art industry is probably linked to the art pieces art dealers and galleries who think they can sell for the highest prices to consumers. Because let’s not forget, art is also a business.
A scientific study concludes that while art viewers enjoyed the aesthetics of women’s art to a greater extent compared to men’s art, they still assigned more monetary value and prestige to the artworks created by male artists. This assumption may be explained by the misconception that due to there being more male artists who have greater visibility than female artists, male artists are more talented and successful.
This is not true and does not consider the historical obstacles imposed on women, whereby women had been banned from the art world for many centuries and had been excluded from studying art or training professionally. Due to previous discrimination that goes back many eras, male artists have had, and still have, greater exposure and opportunities in the art world.
What is feminist art?
Over the decades, the meaning of feminism has been distorted. To appreciate feminist art, it is important to recognize the real and true aims of feminism. Feminism is about equal rights and unbiased opportunities for all human beings. Consequently, it is then also about questioning gender roles and norms.
Surprising to many, feminism brings about positive change for both men and women. Feminism addresses many issues, some of which include the financial and political independence of women, gendered-based violence, equal educational and professional opportunities for women, and sexual harassment.
Definitions of what constitutes feminist art differ from artist to artist, and viewer to viewer. Yet, there are key elements. Feminist art does not prioritize aesthetics, nor is it just art created by women about the female perspective. It is a mode of provoking the viewer to challenge societal norms, question sexist traditions, and fight gender discrimination. Once the seed of doubt is planted in the mind of the viewer, it has the potential to blossom into social change.
Feminist art strives to speak out against a patriarchy-driven society and to demand equality. It also challenges the meaning of femininity and how these societal and beauty constructions are imposed upon women.
Leanne Berger, who also goes by Leanne Van, is an illustrator, designer, and mural artist. Leanne primarily creates digital art, which she describes as “an exciting and dynamic space to be in.”
Leanne’s Instagram account showcases a variety of designs, but what stuck out for me are the strong tones surrounding female empowerment. Leanne is also the co-founder of a non-profit organisation called The Embrace Project, which “aims to ‘creatively combat’ GBVF by combining Art and Advocacy.” The Embrace Project has an Instagram page too, popular for its powerful messages and bold illustrations.
When asked what feminist art means to her, Leanne told To EmpowHER, “I see feminist art as art or illustration that conveys a message. Whether this be getting people to confront a certain subject matter, bringing awareness to an issue, or just creating something that brings a message of positivity and unity.”
Traditional and contemporary feminist art:
It was only in the 1960s, primarily in western societies, that feminist art was born, conceived for women to share their lived experiences in a patriarchal society through art. Prior to this, the art world had been the domain of male artists. The feminist art movement amplified the voices of those who had been previously silenced, especially women, people of color, and individuals of non-normative identities and bodies. Just as feminism is evolving to include a more diverse group of women, so is feminist art, which has embraced intersectionality.
This means that feminist art explores gender in relation to race, sexual orientation, and other forms of identity. Feminist art is continuously evolving and has not remained stagnant since it was formed, rather it has adapted to fit the current times in many ways. This includes the content, medium, and creators of feminist art.
Leanne shares with To EmpowHER, “I don’t believe only females create or support feminist art - there are many allies who use their creative talents to create art that is uplifting, that is celebratory of women and their power.”
“There are also many who champion and encourage a world where artists and illustrators have equal opportunities for their voice to be heard, in areas where male voices have traditionally dominated. Through The Embrace Project, I have come across artists across the gender spectrum who have used their talent to further our message - that women should be respected and allowed to pursue their passions in a safe environment - without fear.”
Mediums of feminist art
Feminist art is and has always been innovative, using eclectic mediums and media, such as textiles and performance. These are methods not primarily associated with the masculine artist, unlike painting and sculpture.
A unique feature of feminist art was the use of the physical, breathing and moving body as the actual artwork, instead of a static painting or sculpture. The body was the canvas, and the paint was the words and movement. This type of body art is quite controversial, with many traditional critics and viewers denying it as ‘true’ art.
However, many proponents of body art argue the irony of dismissing body art, as male artists have used the female body in their art for centuries, while women are criticised for taking back their power and using their own bodies as a message of empowerment.
Traditionally, feminist art was physical. Actual paintings, live performances, and printed photographs. But as we move into the digital age, feminist art has also adapted. Social media is a powerful tool for feminist art. It is another platform where women can speak up about injustices, and the beauty of social media and the internet is that there are no biased or sexist gatekeepers. Anyone can create and post.
Digital art is one of the modes that Leanne has chosen to voice her views. “I wouldn’t say that I aim to be feminist, however, by trying to communicate a positive message through my illustrations - I hope that I take up space in places that matter, and that will be seen.”
My illustrations sometimes have a certain message, other times they focus more on positivity and enjoyment. To me, anyone who is following their passion and doing what they love, and including others, will inevitably change the space they’re in and make it more welcoming, diverse, and more interesting.
How can we use art to protest?
For many centuries prior to the late 1800s, the act of being a female artist could be seen as a form of protest as women had been excluded and banned from the art world. When the art world opened to women, the content of feminist art became their form of protest.
The simple act of showing the female body was seen as a form of protest, as women are taught to cover up, to be ashamed of their bodies, and to fight against natural bodily appearances such as body hair, stretch marks, pigmentation, and fat. Unlike the art of male artists, feminist art does not aim to romanticize the female body. It aims to celebrate the female body as it is, with the inclusion of what society deems ‘flaws’.
Feminist art is determined to shine a light on what women have been taught to not talk about, what we have been taught to be ashamed of.
Leanne believes that art can be a way to combat this, and declares:
In the age of free information and social media, I think feminist art is a very powerful tool to convey a message in a way that engages people and sparks conversation. Art is now visible and distributed digitally in a way it never could before. Often art can be used to break down barriers and show people they are not alone. Art is a message that is put in a visual form - so that it can be shared and help the message go further.
Not only has feminist art forged a path for non-male, non-white and non-normative artists, but it has also highlighted and made known the diversity of experiences. Its powerful nature and attention-grabbing characteristics make it a great tool for change. It’s the most creative form of protest.
How to contact Leanne Berger:
Website: www.leannevan.com
Instagram: @leannevanloves
Email: leanne_van@live.co.za
How to contact The Embrace Project:
Website: www.theembraceproject.com
Facebook/Instagram: @theembraceprojectza
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