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If asked to look at yourself in the mirror, how do you feel? Do you like what you see? Are there things you do not like about yourself? Are these things you would want to change skin deep, or do they lie further in your mind? Where do these thoughts come from? Did these thoughts come about from self-reflection, or did someone else impose these beliefs and feelings onto you? For centuries, women throughout history have had their identities, experiences and ideas oppressed, while their existence was dictated by men in power.

The 20th and 21st centuries have brought about powerful waves of feminism, allowing activists to express the grievances that women have faced throughout history. The surge of feminism in the 1960s through the 1980s, brought about one of the most artistically expressive waves of feminism, wherein women demanded that their work and the work of other minorities and oppressed people be shown alongside men equally. The Guerrilla Girls were one of the largest proponents for having women’s and feminists’ artwork on display at museums. In their work, You’re Seeing Less Than Half the Picture, they graphically delineate the issue of the lack of artwork produced by women and artists of color without overpowering imagery, but with straight-forward, bold type. This kind of work from the second wave of feminism inspired artists like Jenny Holzer to continue with the graphic, bold feminist messages in pieces like I Am Awake, where she takes on modern issues of the feminist movement, such as sexual assault.

The evolution of feminist artwork contributes to the change in how women represent themselves and view others. In Barbara Kruger’s piece, Untitled (Your comfort is my silence), she brings attention to how comfortable society had become with keeping women’s issues and experiences devalued throughout history. Her piece was one of many from several feminist artists wanting to bring awareness to the contemporary issues of feminism and how women’s identities had been dictated by a male gaze throughout history. As seen in her other work, as well, she conveys the importance of seeing and knowing to kickstart the evolution of people’s identity as determined by each individual person themselves and not imposed upon them by anyone else. Meanwhile in Holzer’s I Am Awake, there is already an awareness to one’s identity and how the feminist movement has moved on from advocating for one’s own identity to fighting for the rights of others to be able to freely express their identity.

The title of this exhibit, Excuse Me, Who Are You?, is a line from a film called Perfect Blue. The main character, a former pop idol turned rising actress, repeats this line during rehearsals for her first scene as a television actress after leaving the pop idol world. Throughout the film, the line serves as a reminder of the ideas of her evolving identity, as she is constantly challenged and frightened by other people’s perceptions of her. As seen in both the film and in the lives of women and members of other oppressed groups, individuals’ identities are fluid, ever-changing aspects of a person’s life. The views and opinions of others should not be imposed upon another person, creating false narratives, personas and stereotypes on individuals. As seen in the pieces throughout the exhibit, as the feminist movement continued its advocation of rights and equality, it also therein inspired the evolution of the expression of identity.

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Untitled projection at City Hall (Norman Foster), London

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Untitled projection at City Hall (Norman Foster), London

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Jenny Holzer, 2006

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Cindy Sherman, 1978
Photography

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Untitled (Know nothing, Believe anything, Forget everything)

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Untitled (Know nothing, Believe anything, Forget everything)

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Barbara Kruger, 1987
Digital print on vinyl

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Guerrilla Girls, 1988
Screenprint on paper

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Cindy Sherman, 1980
Photography

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Barbara Kruger, 1981
Silkscreen on vinyl

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Cindy Sherman, 1980
Photography

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Untitled (The future belongs to those who can see it)

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Untitled (The future belongs to those who can see it)

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Barbara Kruger, 1997
Digital print on vinyl

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You're Seeing Less Than Half the Picture

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You're Seeing Less Than Half the Picture

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Guerrilla Girls, 1989
Screenprint on paper

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Jenny Holzer, 1996
Phrase coined in 1993
Wooden jigsaw puzzle and offset paper