Constrained Bodies
Erica Tagliarino
Constrained Bodies is an exhibition concerned with the ways in which the patriarchy confines and limits women and their bodies. Despite the advancements in women’s rights in the past century, women are still subjected to unequal standards when it comes to submission, voice, and the expectation of how much space we should take up. Ultimately, this affects women’s access to spatial equality, especially in public spaces. However, this issue is unknown or ignored by the men who control these spaces, leaving the problem unacknowledged and unaddressed.
This exhibition seeks to comment on the unfair norms in which women’s bodies and voices are constrained. The exhibition features a series of posters, which can be viewed through two different lenses to reveal alternate points of view. On first glance, the poster seems to only present a patriarchal narrative, however when viewed through a red lens, this narrative is removed and a woman’s voice becomes visible. The work draws on themes of gaze, perspective, power, and voice to critique patriarchal structures, inspire change, and ultimately empower the women who enter the space. As conversations around gender dynamics can be tricky to navigate, this exhibition aims to assist in starting and facilitating these conversations, as well as to spark empathy for the systemic oppression that women face on a daily basis.