Exquisite Corpse: Cologne art exhibition confronts sexist attitudes in wake of NYE sex attacks

Poppy Jackson and Rupi Kaur both feature in the multimedia exhibition

A still from Anastasia Vepreva's 2014 video 'Bag' (Press image)

Eleven female artists are exhibiting their explorations of womanhood in a Cologne art exhibition.

Female form, self-identity, self-image, constructs of ‘femininity’ and stereotypes are examined and evaluated in the wake of the shocking sex attacks that occurred in the German city on New Year’s Eve.

Performance artist Poppy Jackson, who memorably straddled an east London building naked and asked for donations of menstrual blood last year, is taking part in Exquisite Corpse, alongside the cutting-edge likes of Rupi Kaur (who sparked an Instagram war with her Period photography series), Faith Holland, Anastasia Vepreva, Lacie Garnes, Evelin Stermitz and Sheena Patel.

The artists have turned to video, photography, drawing, illustration, performance, painting and contemporary technology to confront sexist attitudes and patriarchal ideals, undermine the male gaze and deconstruct the “sexualised, infantilised and fetished female paradigm”.

Sarah Faraday has curated the free display at underground gallery Gold + Beton. When the exhibition first opened at Bradford’s Fuse Art Space last summer, she said:

“The internet poses significant problems in female representation, from pornography to the use of female form in advertising and notably the use of sexually violent language as a form of censorship and aggression towards female expression.

“These female artists are using both online and material forms for creativity, empowerment and subversion while reclaiming control of the representation of their bodies.”

The exhibition is open from 4-7pm on Fridays and Saturdays until 7 February.