Power up – Female Pop Art in Viena

When I think of Pop Art I think of multiple, very colourful images of Marilyn Monroe, Campbell’s Soup and Comics. Characterizing for this art movement is the use of themes popularized by the mass culture, taking things out of their context, combining them with other objects. Pop art has challenged traditions and considering the time that it emerged in (1950s) the role of females in society is definitely a tradition that was questioned giving rise to the feminist movement. However, this movement is mainly associated with male artists. Names such as Andy Warhol, Roy Liechtenstein and Richard Hamilton immediately come to mind.

Since November 5^th the Kunsthalle in Viena is presenting an exhibition that is dedicated to the female artists of Pop Art. Under the title “POWER UP – Female Pop Art” the work of 9 outstanding female Pop artists is presented, reinterpreting an art movement that has primarily been dominated by males and adding a more political component in the interpretation of the art.

Unlike their male colleagues that appealed to a broad audience due to their use of commercial, mass culture objects, the women of this movement remained more critical. In their work they referred more to political and social events of the time (e.g. Vietnam War) and went beyond the superficiality of consumerism. They were mocking mass media clichés by ironically transforming them.

These artists took a firm stand for feminism and are considered pioneers of this movement. For example, Niki de Saint Phalle used her artwork to think about the position of women in society.

Another artist whose work will be featured in this exhibition is Jann Haworth who was one of the first to use nonrigid materials such as foam and cloth to create scultures (soft sculpture). She is best known as the co-creator of The Beatles´ Sgt. Pepper´s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. This exhibition will be open until February 5, 2011 in Hall 1 of the Kunsthalle Wien.

For more information visit: http://www.kunsthallewien.at/cgi-bin/event/event.pl?id=3728?=en
Kunsthalle Wien, Hall 1 and 2: Museumsplatz 1, A-1070 Vienna

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Miss Moci

Don’t waste any time. Rent apartments in Vienna to visit this interesting exhibition.