Lisa Gwen on her latest project ‘{v}’
ARTZ ID spoke to Lisa Gwen, curator of the ongoing collective exhibition {v} at Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta. The show celebrates the female form and aims to demystify bodily functions. In this interview, Lisa tells us all about her curatorial process and perspective.
What inspired this thematic selection?
I guess, most of us possess an inherent and perhaps heightened self-consciousness and awareness; one imposed by a society which largely dictates how you’re supposed to look, dress, speak, behave. Thus, mine wasn’t an inspiration, but rather an urge, which stemmed from a preoccupation. It was a need which required a creative outlet and artistic expression. My initial proposal for {v} as well as the general grounding concept, came from the desire to celebrate the female form, in every aspect possible, in an attempt to demystify the vulva and vagina, and in the process, to engage artists and visitors in informed dialogue. And I chose to tackle this through a collective multi-media exhibition in which female genitalia is given centre stage. The intention was always to create a positively provocative show, one that was playful, tasteful, overt, and symbolic.
How did you select the artists?
The choice of artists is as diverse as their work and their perception of the female form. I purposely wanted both male and female artists to form part of the show’s line-up; the perception and subsequent interpretation of gender, is always valid, irrespective of the gender perceiving it; I wanted viewers to ‘feel’ the difference between the male and female gaze.
When I first proposed this project to Spazju Kreattiv, I also submitted a line-up of artists, whose work I was familiar with, thematically, stylistically. I also knew what kind of curatorial narrative I wished to propose and present. This informed a large part of the choice of artists, some of whom have developed new bodies of work, others have adapted previous work for this show, and on a few occasions, the result came through direct consultation and what was presented is a ‘collaboration’; a fusion of what they had in their repertoire, and how I could envision it in the exhibition. Lastly, I researched and researched, most especially, the international artistic component. I knew that the final line-up of artists and the content needed to possess a solid aesthetic which would nevertheless not overwhelm viewers; hence the exhibition, and the hang, was kept quite minimal.
Is there anything in particular you’d like viewers to take away from this body of work?
I’d like viewers to leave the exhibition, with a smile, and perhaps a sense of liberation. ‘Discussing’ vaginas and vulvas, whether through art or plain discourse, should be commonplace; it shouldn’t be embarrassing or shameful. I’ve had so many candid and open conversations over the past 15 months, conversations that I would never have dreamt I could engage in before thinking up this show. It has been a refreshing experience to be able to disclose thoughts, sentiments and experiences with the artists as well as the team of Spazju Kreattiv. So, I’d like viewers to experience the exhibition in a similar vein; for them to understand that it’s absolutely and perfectly fine to soak up these artworks, to engage in discourse regarding bodily functions, to talk openly about menstruation, masturbation, orgasms; to reclaim some of the vulgar terms which have been and will continue to be used to reference female genitalia; to admire the beauty and difference of our bodies. We all need to play a part in advocating for body positivity; we all need to own who we are, unashamedly, unabashedly.
What would you like to see more of?
I would like {v} to be an introduction; I feel that the exhibition could act as a catalyst for artists and curators alike to tackle other aspects related to the female form. I’d like to see shows and exhibitions, projects and initiatives which focus on menstruation, reproductive rights, sexual health / education, trans bodies, female genital mutilation, the aging body, gender reaffirming surgery, and so on. I feel that these subjects are highly topical, and art is such an amazing medium through which to express context, through which to comment, reflect on and subsequently make an impact on our sector, environment. We need to be more daring, and we need to create fun projects, that not only speak to the few.
{v} is on at Spazju Kreattiv until March 21. Find out more about the exhibition, participating artists and ancillary events here.
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