Cuvantul "feminism" are o aroma mucegaita in limbajulactual. In Regatul Tarilor de Jos oamenii se intreabaa care poate fi scopul feministelor din zilele noastre, pentru ca majoritatea lucrurilor pentru care au luptat femeile in anii 1960 si 1970 par sa fi fost realizate. Din punctul meu de vedere cei care au luptat pentru drepturile femeilor in trecut au schimbat pozitia sociala a femeilor intr-un sens pozitiv si au avut succes in diverse domenii. Insa exista din ce in ce mai putin interes public pentru problemele femeilor in zilele noastre, exceptand domeniul artistic, iar progresia stagneaza.
Chiar intalnim in societate un val de neoconservatorism care este in crestere. Situatia prezenta creeaza o stare de tensiune pentru femei care se afla intre o eventuala dorinta de intemeiere a unei familii si pericolul sacrificarii carierei profesionale dupa ani buni de educatie. Este foarte ciudat faptul ca in Regatul Tarilor de Jos nu exista foarte multe politiciene iar universitatile olandeze au cel mai scazut numar de profesoare din Europa. Desi mostenirile culturale din Franta si din Regatul Tarilor de Jos sunt diferite, sistemul lor social se bazeaza pe o intoarcere rapida a femeior in campul de munca dupa nastere. Dar acest lucru nu inseamna ca femeile castiga la fel ca barbatii. Femeile sunt adesea fortate sa se intoarca pe piata muncii cat de repede posibil. Sistemul part-time este folosit ca un compromis de catre femei pentru a-si indeplini sarcinile de femei care muncesc, cat si de mame. Vina este un sentiment comun, insa ascuns in spatele tabuurilor. Ca sa se analizeze situatia din Regatul Tarilor de Jos este necesara o citire printre randuri. Perspectiva mea artistica feminista este influentata de anii pe care i-am petrecut in Franta, Regatul tarilor de Jos si Austria.
Ceea ce m-a determinat sa produc prima mea carte, Wellness/Stare de bine, a fost un articol ce avea ca subiect toxina botulinica, care este mai bine cunoscuta sub numele de "Botox". Originile acestei toxine si potentiala ei folosire ca o arma chimica m-au inspirat sa desenez imediat in termeni comparativi. Subtitlul cartii mele, The First Prize/Locul intai, se refera la obligatia de "a te simti bine" o atmosfera care ne inconjoara si care pretinde sa ne ofere toate oportunitatile in lumea noastra lustruita. Daca te simti
bine, daca iti pastrezi corpul de femeie intr-o conditie perfecta si il aduci aproape de forma ideala, vei castiga premiul intai! In aceasta privinta esti pusa in competitie cu alte femei si masurile care urmeaza conduc la subiectul celei de-a doua carti ale mele, Reflexzonen/Zona de reflex.
In desenele mele rivalitatea si mitocania in locul complicitatii sunt o sfera din spectrul larg, a relatiilor dintre femei, pe care am ales sa ma axez. Pentru aceasta carte m-am bazat pe experientele prietenelor mele, ale caror povesti le-am colectionat. Desenele arata deasemenea ca si forta fizica este folosita pentru mentinerea actualei structuri de putere si pentru diminuarea cresterii autocunoasterii femeii. Subtitlul, Click to order/Apasa si comanda, este un imperativ cu sugestia de libera alegere. Sper ca intr-o zi aceasta libera alegere sa devina o realitate si sa nu ramana blocata intr-o ordine ambigua si auto-referentiala.

Barbara Philipp

The word "feminism" has a mouldy flavor in the use of daily language. In the Netherlands people often ask what can possibly be the goal of feminists today, because most of what women fought for in the 1960s and 1970s seem to have been achieved already. From my point of view those who fought for women's rights in earlier times changed the social position of women in a positive way and they were successful in various fields. But there is less and less public concern for feminist issues nowadays, except in art, and the progression is stagnating. We even encounter a wave of increasing neo-conservatism in society. The present situation puts women in a position of tension between the eventual wish of a family and the danger of sacrificing their professional career after years of higher education. Strangely enough there are not many female politicians in the Netherlands and Dutch universities have the one of the lowest ratio of women professors in Europe.
Although the cultural background in France and in the Netherlands is different, their social system is based on a quick return of women in the general working process after pregnancy. But this does not mean that women earn as much as men. Women are often obliged to return to their work as quickly as possible. Part-time is used as a compromise by women in order to fulfill their duties both as workingwomen and mothers. Guilt is a common feeling, but hidden under taboos. In order to analyze the situation in the Netherlands one has to read between the lines.
My artistic feminist perspective is influenced by the years I have spent in France, the Netherlands and Austria.
What set me on the production of my first book, Wellness, was an article about the Botulinum Toxin, which is better known as "Botox". The origins of this toxin and its potential use as a chemical weapon inspired me to draw down my associations immediately.
The subtitle of my book, The First Prize, refers to the obligation of "feeling good", an atmosphere which surrounds us and pretends to offer us all opportunities in our glossy world. If you feel good, if you preserve your female body in perfect condition and you bring it close to the ideal form, you will win the first prize!
In this respect, you are put in competition with other women and the measuring that follows leads to the subject of my second art book, Reflexzonen. In my drawings, rivalry and mobbing instead of complicity are a sphere in the large spectrum of women relationships on which I choose to focus. For this book I built on the experiences of my female friends, whose stories I have collected. The drawings also show that even physical force is used to maintain the actual power structure and to diminish the growth of female self-reflection. The subtitle, Click to order, is an imperative with the suggestion of free choice. I hope that one day this free choice will become a reality and will not remain stuck in an ambiguous, self-referential order.
For me drawing is a free act, without censorship. The medium of drawing is a form of reflection, which allows me to express something without judging first.
I find the possible immediate reaction fascinating and inspiring. The potential of using
lines and planes as a form of expression lies in its simplicity.

Barbara Philipp

Stare de bine, Premiul Intai, si Zona de reflex, Apasa si comanda, carti de autor, tehnica mixta, 22x30 cm
Wellness, the first prize (original title: Der erste Preis), Reflexzone (original title: Reflexzonen) Click to order, artist books, mixed media,22x30 cm

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