Patriarchy In Pantsuits

Patriarchy In Pantsuits
2023
Acrylic on canvas
50 x 60 cm

I kept seeing women looking exactly the same. A beige trench-coat without a belt, A-shaped. Their hair pulled up in a bun. Chunky, elaborate sneakers. Some “unique” handbag showing personality. Trying to look like no effort had been made. And I just kept thinking of Hilary Clinton and her pantsuits for some reason. The bar is set so low when it comes to feminine representation of women’s full range of personality and qualities. Come to think of it that’s equally true for men, and that’s why I’m a feminist.

“Patriarchy in Pantsuits” is about this special brand of faux-feminism that I find really sinister. Because it’s not “brave” to wear high heels in a boardroom of wealthy share-holders. Women’s courage deserve better than to hijacked like that. It is not “brave” to embrace wrinkles and signs of aging without injecting our faces with all kinds of shit to make us look more fuckable according to this culture of oppression through assimilation. I will not have my woman-ness reduced through patriarchal and consumer-capitalistic definitions of it. I will not fit in. I will not accept any hollow compliments for refusing to dye my gray away. I will not contend with women simply claiming the place of their oppressors, “celebrating” their victory and new found ability to oppress their previous oppressor, perpetuating the damn system instead of breaking it.

I want to tear the whole thing down.

This painting is sold