Iconography of Gender is a series that portrays individuals who defy normative gender roles in a gender-specific visual language.
Art print edition
per motif 5 pieces, each in 2 sizes: 60x40cm and 120x80cm (plus each size 2 artist prints). Material: „Photo Lustre“ by Canson.
Find all suggested framings here.
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Catherine Lieser: » In my project “Iconography of Gender,” I photographed people who defy normative gender roles by using gender-specific visual language.
I have been looking into patriarchal narratives about gender roles and wondering how gender is depicted in photography and whether there is such a thing as gender-specific visual language.
What is the patriarchal narrative of gender in a nutshell? Patriarchy is a social system in which men are the dominant power in politics, economics and culture, and male values and norms dominate.
Women, on the other hand, are structurally disadvantaged and considered passive. In terms of sexuality, men are also considered dominant, with sexuality primarily serving their pleasure and procreation. Women, on the other hand, are considered passive and objects of male control. In addition, binary genders and heterosexual orientation are considered natural.
Although these narratives are constructed and have developed historically, they are presented as something “natural” and legitimize the exercise of power over women and other marginalized genders through sexism, violence, and social control, often packaged in romantic ideals.
With my question in mind, I researched photographs in which men are portrayed as dominant and women as passive objects of male desire and control.
I found a total of four motifs that depict the same gender using the same visual language. I created a series for each motif, so that a visual language becomes recognizable that has been used continuously over decades. I also included painting, as it is the forerunner of photography.
In order to visually contradict the patriarchal visual language, I portrayed people who stand in contrast to gender narratives, using traditional visual language. «
Motif No. 1
A visual tradition of depicting men.
My photographical quote with Drag Queen Kelly Heelton.
Motif No. 2.
A visual tradition of depicting women.
My photographical quotes with interdisciplinary artist Julakim and Play Temple host Gili Jala.
Motif No. 3
A visual tradition of depicting men.
My photographical quotes with drag queen Jazz Cortes.
Motif No. 4
A visual tradition of depicting women.
My photographical quotes with trans rapper Saphira, singer-songwriter Josephinex and feminist author Nazli Karabiyikoglu.
The series was exhibited, among many other places, at the European Month of Photography in Berlin and at the Kunstverein Familie Montez in Frankfurt am Main.
Four portraits are part of the Art Collection of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment.
