This talk will explore the complex subject of motherhood expressed by unconventional impressionist women artists (like Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot and Eva Gonzalès) to get us to, perhaps, rethink contemporary sentiments associated ‘motherhood.’
Project Category: Identity Events
The cult of the Virgin: motherhood and the humanity of a Christian God
This talk explores the shifting image of the Virgin Mary, how She became the focus of art and prayer and how the humanity of motherhood set the standard, for better or worse, for women throughout Europe.
Addressing Dispersal: Repatriation, Restitution and Tracing Looted Tiles from Islamic Monuments
The subject of colonial-era violence, looting and removal of cultural heritage is a timely. The aim of this talk is to use a couple of related case studies to lay out a framework that could work for all stakeholders, to allow them to come together and address the range of related issues, some ways forward, and how to create a meaningful dialogue that transcends the range of different views on the subject.
The figure of the gangster in South African photography, literature and cinema
This talk will consider the representation of the gangster with regard to its manifestations in post-94 photography, literature, music and cinema. It will address the complexities at stake in the performance of the ‘urban hustler’ and masculine ‘anti-hero’ and explore the tropes of conformity, vulnerability and so-called ‘deviance’.
Beautiful Images of Global Issues: commercial aesthetics in contemporary culture
Can beautiful images illustrate dire human situations? Can one separate the content of the image from its form to fully appreciate it? With a focus on mainstream images of human migrations, this talk discusses the contemporary commercial aesthetics that influence all visual fields from interior design to fashion and makeup.
The Beauty of Ageing
Join Samantha Allen for a body positive talk that reclaims our narrative on ageing. Understand why that opposition exists and why we need to create better, less invisible futures for ourselves as women.
Female Beauty Standards in China: a Brief Review of the History
Beauty has been a central theme in Chinese poetry and literature for centuries, with many artists expressing their perceptions of beauty through their works. This 1h online talk takes a historical view of Chinese perception of female beauty and its representation in Chinese poems and paintings.
Reclaiming the Female Body in Art
In this session we will focus on artists such as Louise Bourgeois, The Gorilla Girls and Jenny Saville - all of whom have created depictions of the female body from the perspective of women, for an audience of both women and men.
Restricted Imaginary for Restricted Border Regimes: images of migration shaping migratory policies
This talk will address Western collective imagination of migration by revealing its imprint in various visual fields (e.g. cartography, contemporary art, fashion) and by seeking ways to diversify its expression.
Trailblazers
Join Samantha Allen for a journey through history to uncover great inventions and explore ideologies created by Black men and women that have shifted, disrupted and challenged how we see and experience the world today.