je n’étais pas qu’une simple chimère

Inspired by a photograph taken in 1974 of a group of women in conversation while lounging in a Paris studio, this exhibition presents the work of four contemporary artists (Aleesa Cohene, Luanne Martineau, Lili Reynaud-Dewar, Lucie Stahl) whose practice, directly or indirectly engages with the formal visual elements and-or conceptual legacy of an earlier generation of feminist artists from the 70s and early 80s.

By bringing to the surface this particular trend in current art practice, the exhibition allows for reflexive consideration of the issues facing contemporary women artists, the issues of an earlier generation, and the narrative space in between. It subtly probes the utopian ideals set forth by second wave feminist artists, and juxtaposes this against present day possibilities, or realities of that legacy, for contemporary women artists.

Formally and materially, the work within this exhibition also suggests a commonality of approach between the present-day practices exhibited and work made by a previous generation in the 70s and early 80s. The work is very physical, strong and present, avoiding feminine tropes of delicacy and ephemerality, while still being of and about the feminine. The material approach of the selected contemporary works also references the second wave generation who often dealt with re-appropriating craft, or stereotypically feminine creative pastimes, into the world of high art.