Rise

Created for the group show ‘Declaration of sentiments’

The three key elements of the ‘Declaration of sentiments’ are ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’. For me this sits parallel with the three symbols represented by the purple, white and green ribbons of the Suffragette movement; that of loyalty, purity and hope. Emmeline Pankhurst rose up to lead women to fight for the right to vote. Beneath her genteel appearance lay a strong brave woman, in her own words a “hooligan”. It is down to the bravery of these women that in the UK women have a voice today.

Appearances can be deceptive, a feather is the most fragile and delicate of materials, yet allows a bird to fly; the ultimate symbol of freedom. Chains are the symbol of control and restriction yet it is through this restriction that women have taken back control, and chains turn into strength.

Photography with thanks to Laurentina Miksys, and model Jennifer Morgan.

About Declaration of Sentiments:

Organized by Co+Lab, the exhibition was named after the Declaration of Sentiments at the Seneca Falls Congress, which was held on 19-20.07.1848 under the leadership of Elizabeth CadyStanton. The Declaration was signed by 100 men and women, and this was the first organized women's rights record in history and advocacy for equal rights for women.

Throughout the history, the existence of women in social life has been tried to be made invisible. The woman, who was previously described with symbols of fertility, abundance and goddess , was depicted as an evil creature in the Middle Ages. With the evolution of the matriarchal structure to the patriarchal structure, women were forced to live in a male-dominated world without equality.

In the history of art women artists were ignored, and their work was only associated with craft requiring manual dexterity. Nevertheless, in this historical process, women artists opposed the marginalization and rejected the gender based roles imposed by the patriarchal system. They continued their struggle in the field of art by running their own galleries, organizing their own exhibitions and opening their own art schools.

The Declaration of Sentiments exhibition was designed as a continuation of this historical process and brought together women artists within the framework of gender based women's struggle in the art environment.

An online version of the exhibition can be viewed here as it was sadly cancelled during Munich Jewellery Week due to Covid 19.

https://klimt02.net/events/exhibitions/declaration-sentiments-labor-im-chor-gallery