LEBO MJANGAZE
East London artist Claudine Hauke is putting the spotlight on women in art this August, with an all-female exhibition featuring local and international talent to provide women in art with a platform to be celebrated, seen and heard.
The exhibition is timed during Women’s Month and local artists are encouraged to submit pieces by July 15 to feature as part of the exhibition which kicks off from August 1.
Hauke believes the exhibition is important as it undermines the structural inequalities in the art world that continue to marginalise women artists and their contributions.
Just before 2020, according to Britain’s Tate Gallery, 51% of visual artists were women, yet 78% of the galleries represent more men than women.
At most art galleries in SA, the statistics are heavily skewed against female artists in terms of representation, which means that the opportunities for their work to be exhibited are rare.
Writing on the importance of celebrating art by women in 2016, JR Thorpe said: “The dearth of female artists who’ve achieved the big time, in sales, reputation, academic attention or general acclaim, isn’t down to innate incapability or divergence of talent.
“It’s been a progressive, structural issue.
“Giving money [and exhibition space] to good female-made art gives it legitimacy, and creates the basis for structures to change.”
As a founder of Lakritz Contemporary Art Gallery and editor of Lakritz The Magazine, Hauke believes the exhibition is not just showcasing talent but also championing the representation that will force the art world to take women’s contributions seriously.
The pieces selected will also form part of Lakritz The Magazine’s August edition.
“The event is dedicated to Women’s Month in SA and aims to celebrate and support women in contemporary art.
“The show is open to submission from emerging and established artists alike, and it is completely free to enter and be showcased and published.”
Local women artist’s who want to submit their work for the exhibition, are encouraged to visit www.lakritz.co.za or contact 083-600-1596 or email info@lakritz.co.za.
