Goddesses

Drawing on its own collection, the National Museum shows Part II of its presentation “Women Who Move Art”.

The title of the exhibition is taken from Lara Schnitger’s sculpture “Fuck You / Fuck Me Goddess” from 2005. This sculpture is a large fantastical creature made from a framework of wooden sticks draped in scraps of cloth and decorated with beads, silk ribbon and fur. Armed with an aggressive, confrontational demonstration placard, it resembles a monster more than a goddess.

The title “Goddesses” is a cliché on which the exhibition seeks to throw new light. Forget expectations of a classical homage to women’s art. Instead, the exhibition aims to reassess one traditional narrative of what women’s art ought to be. In its plural form, “Goddesses” is meant as a devil-may-care critique of patriarchal notions about the masterpiece and the universally valid canon. Rather than a retelling of art history, the exhibition explores the issue of the conventional categories we use in describing art.

“Goddesses” refers to the diversity of exceptions to that narrative.

The exhibition shows a cross-section of the richly varied ideas artists have worked with. The themes addressed include not just classical, feminist issues, such as the body, institutional critique, handcrafts and materials, but also language, concept and abstraction.

Visitors can view works by national and international greats such as Marina Abramovic, Gunnvor Advocaat, Vanessa Beecroft, Book and Hedén, Sophie Calle, Andrea Fraser, Isa Genzken, Marianne Heske, Ane Mette Hol, Løvaas & Wagle, Camilla Løw, Lara Schnitger and many others.
Curators: Andrea Kroksnes og Randi Godø