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The Future of Taiwan’s Art Market from the “Taipei Contemporary Art Fair”

Maybe you’ve never heard of “Taipei Contemporary Art Fair”, but this art fair, which will hold its first exhibition in Taipei next January, has a lot of history. The director of Basel Hong Kong, Magnus Renfrew, is the director and one-handed planner, and the sponsor behind the scenes is still UBS. In addition, although it is the first time, Taipei Contemporary has invited internationally renowned galleries including Gagosian Gallery, Perrotin, and Hauser & Wirth. Such a luxurious art fair has made people turn their attention to the Taiwan market again.

Many people may ask, why choose Taiwan? Ren Tianjin, director of the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair, said in an interview with the South China Morning Post that he considered various factors and felt that the Taiwan market was an unexplored market full of opportunities.

Is the Taipei Art Market a legacy of the Asian art market? What is the potential of contemporary art in Taipei? What is the impact of Contemporary Art Taipei on the Asian market? To this end, we interviewed Lin Shunjie, a senior art consultant in Taiwan, and Zhao Yi, a resident writer in Taiwan’s well-known art media Fei Chizhong, to discuss the prospects of the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair and the Taiwan art market.

What is Taipei Contemporary Art Fair

The first “Taipei Contemporary Art Fair” will be held in Taipei in January 2019, featuring 90 galleries from over 40 countries. The theme of this exhibition is “New Perspectives and Shared Platforms”. The three themes of the fair, “Past,” “Present,” and “Future,” will be discussed over the three days, ranging from contemporary Asian artists of the mid-twentieth century, to emerging artists of today, and the future The development of museums and cultural institutions.

Unlike the internationalization and large scale of Basel in Hong Kong, Ren Tianjin intends to make Taipei Contemporary a regional art fair focusing on the Asian market. In the exhibition list, Asian galleries accounted for nearly 90%, with 20 galleries from Taiwan alone.

In addition to the Asian market as the center of the market positioning, another highlight of the Taipei Contemporary is to focus on emerging galleries and new generation collectors. The fair specifically opened a new generation gallery program for young galleries less than eight years old; and in the art salon area, the conference invited all 90 galleries to select a work under $8,000 to exhibit as a way to attract more young collectors.

Ren Tianjin, Art Director of Contemporary Taipei, said, “This new art fair, Contemporary Taipei, will introduce many selected galleries to Taipei’s strong family of collectors and present cultural creations belonging to Taiwan and Asia to a wider audience.”

Ren Tianjin, Director of Taipei Contemporary Art Museum

Performance of the Taipei Art Market

Many new generation art collectors may not have paid much attention to the art market in Taiwan, but the Taiwanese art market has been going on for 40 years. After its beginnings in the 1960s, its development in the 1970s, and its maturation in the 1980s, the 1990s marked the peak of the Taiwanese art market. In its heyday, there were nearly 100 galleries in the Dunhua South Road area of Taipei alone. A small to medium-sized gallery could do as much as 600,000 RMB a month. However, the Asian financial turmoil of 1997 caused the art market in Taiwan to collapse rapidly. In the time since, Taiwan’s art market has been mediocre.

Apollo Building and surrounding galleries in Taiwan in the 90s

The Taiwan market in the last two years is summarized as.

1. the overall market is more mature, with a small rebound in 2017
2. the overall level of local collectors is high
3. the market prefers medium-priced artworks

First of all, although the overall performance of Taiwan’s art market is not particularly prominent, the 40-year history of the art market has laid a solid foundation for the Taiwan market. At present, there are more than 400 galleries in Taiwan, including many high-quality local galleries, such as Eslite Gallery, Geng Gallery and so on. Art fairs in Taiwan are also relatively mature. ART TAIPEI is one of the oldest art fairs in Asia and has been held for 25 sessions so far.

ART TAIPEI 2018 Live

In addition, many well-known Asian painters perform far better in Taiwan than they do in other cities or regions. Japan’s Yoshitomo Nara, for example, accounts for 8% of all turnover in Taiwan, just 3% lower than in Japan. Zao Wou-ki’s turnover in Taiwan accounted for 4.4% of the total ratio, and Chu Teh-chun’s accounted for 11%.

And in 2018, the art market in Taiwan even saw a rebound. According to ArtPrice, in the first half of 2018, the Taiwanese art market reached a turnover of more than $200 million, with nearly 500 artworks sold, including Zao Wou-Ki’s 5.11.62, which sold for nearly $7 million at Rovio. In addition, many galleries sold surprisingly well at this year’s otherwise unpromising Taipei International Art Fair, and still managed to break even even even with over-investment.

In addition to the market itself, Taiwan’s collectors are also more sophisticated compared to many Asian regions, for example, world-renowned collectors such as Chen Taiming and Weng Meihui are from Taiwan. Zhao Yi, a resident writer at Non-Pond, told Art Market Newsletter, “The veteran group of collectors in Taiwan has accumulated a tradition of acquiring artworks around the world for more than 20 years now since they stepped out of the local market in the late 1990s, and has a certain familiarity with the mechanisms and operations of the international art market as a whole.” More importantly, many Taiwanese collectors are not limited to investment for artworks, but are purely appreciative. Many of them will study the collection and have a more diversified acceptance of it.

They can accept masterpieces priced at a hundred million dollars or more, as well as small works priced at a thousand dollars-as long as they agree with the price. As long as one agrees that the work is worthwhile. ”

Zhao Yi said: “The mentality of Taiwan collectors in general is relatively open and diversified, and the proportion of investment-oriented collectors is relatively low, and they are less likely to focus only on famous artists. I know many collectors who are willing to collect the works of young artists, most of them are not in the mindset of investment, but to support young artists, and in the process of interaction and communication with artists, to get personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.”

Japan’s Whitehead Gallery dominates Taiwan market with high-volume, mid-priced artworks

Although there is a group of top collectors in Taiwan, there are not many such collectors due to the limitations of Taiwan’s economy and other reasons. The overall art market in Taiwan prefers artworks with a mid-price range of $100,000-$500,000. Looking back at the newly released list of contemporary galleries in Taipei, there are not many really big international galleries, but rather small and medium-sized galleries dominate.

Lin Shunjie said: “In recent years, collectors more paintings as the mainstream of the purchase, most of the works of the transaction results are increasingly concentrated in a certain level of the gallery, the middle level of the gallery transaction results mostly in the art fair. Works that are priced high to a certain level are not popular in the Taiwan art market unless they are internationally known and visible, and works that are too regional in price are not popular in the Taiwan art market.”

Zhao Yi also said: “Taiwan’s economy in the last decade is generally not very good, for the high price (about 1 million U.S. dollars or more) works, the local collectors will be very careful in the purchase of the collection, will consider more. Therefore, this Taipei Contemporary Art Fair, if the price is set appropriately, the work will be sold well. On the contrary, if most galleries set their prices too close to the Basel level in Hong Kong, it is very likely that they will not be successful, because the art collection market in Taiwan today should not be able to eat so many high-priced artworks. Or in other words, serious collectors over here have usually been looking at works all over the world, and don’t necessarily have to purchase their collections at this fair.”

Predicting the Impact of the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair on the Taiwan Art Market

The arrival of the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair has undoubtedly injected new living water into the slightly bland Taiwan art market. Many people have high hopes for this Taiwan Art Fair. However, the actual impact of the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair on the Taiwan art market may not be high.

Lin Shunjie said, “In the short term for the Taiwan art market is indeed a very big impact, but if Taipei Contemporary can continue to operate for several sessions, as Art Basel HK has brought to Hong Kong, only then will there be more significant and huge changes to the Taiwan art market and even the entire industrial structure.”

Zhao Yi said, “I personally think that it is unlikely that the entire art market will be revitalized because of a Taipei Contemporary Art Fair. Many collectors now have stable contacts and buying habits with foreign galleries and so on. Some high-ranking collectors here, a year will be divided into two spring and autumn, each prepared about 2-4 million U.S. dollars budget to buy works, so whether Taipei Contemporary has come in, for these people, there is no substantial difference.”

Taipei Contemporary Art Fair Launch Site

Of course, the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair for the Taiwanese market, and the market’s future potential, should still not be underestimated. Taiwan may become a regional art market center with Asia at the center. And the main reasons for this are.

The overall art market in Taiwan has become more eye-catching
Increased opportunities for local Taiwanese and Asian regional artists
More foreign galleries, especially small and medium sized galleries, are likely to establish a presence here

Based on the accounts of two industry practitioners interviewed by Art Market Newsletter, the arrival of this Taipei Contemporary Art Fair is very important for the increasingly localized Taiwanese art market. Whether for local collectors, artists, or art institutions, it is an opportunity to enhance their horizons and to help the Taiwanese market expand further towards internationalization. Lin Shunjie said, “Since the 1990s, the scope of Taiwan’s art market has become increasingly diverse and changing, a trend that has only accelerated in recent years, and the art market and collectors’ discernment has only become more refined, the only concern is whether the works are good enough to be recognized in this ever-changing trend!”

On the other hand, the fair was also a great exposure for artists from Taiwan and Asia. Both interviewees said that the fair set up solo exhibitions for well-known Asian artists such as Yuko Murata and Mao Xuhui, which is a consolidation of these artists’ position in the Asian market. On the other hand, the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair will attract many foreign galleries. This will also be of great help in increasing the exposure of Taiwan’s local artists. Zhao Yi said: “This time, from the layout of the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair’s investment, strategy and the introduction of a large number of foreign first- and second-tier galleries and artists, for Taiwan’s relatively outstanding local artists, will greatly enhance the opportunity for these artists to “be seen”. Such a result should be very positive for the diversification of the quality of local art creation and the improvement of quality based on competition.”

But most importantly, if this Taipei Contemporary Art Fair can be successfully held, coupled with the overall rebounding trend of Taiwan’s art market this year, more international galleries may be stationed in Taiwan in the future.

Located at the border of Southeast Asia and East Asia, Taiwan’s art market is relatively mature and free. 5% tax is not as high as Hong Kong’s, but it is reasonable compared to other countries. Taiwan’s art market in general is still very cost-effective. Whether it is Whitehead Gallery, which has been selling steadily in Taiwan even though it was not well received, or Sean Kelly, which has recently set up shop in Taiwan, it is a sign that more international galleries may consider setting up shop in Taiwan in the future.

Conclusion

Overall, the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair may be just the beginning for the recovery of the Taiwanese market. Although, it is unlikely that the explosion will happen, however, the potential of the Taiwan market will slowly be discovered. The arrival of the Taipei Contemporary Art Fair will not only bring new energy to the Taiwan art market, but it will also have more positive feedback for the city’s artistic taste and economic development as a whole.

Beginner Tips for Making Your Own Music

Making your own music means creating, producing and publishing your own musical compositions. Here are some simple getting started tips to help you get started in the world of music.

Preface: Make Your Own Music

Whether it’s electronica, beat or classical, the possibilities for making music or creating musical compositions are virtually endless in today’s music programming. The following blog posts contain personal experiences gleaned from my music career.

Choose the Right Equipment

What is the right hardware for home recording? As a home musician, music production requires a powerful computer. Owning an Apple product or a PC is irrelevant. A large hard drive and enough RAM are important. It also requires a powerful processor, as plug-ins, effects, and exporting require a lot of computing power.

Are you using an external sound card or the one that came with the computer?

If you’re choosing a laptop when choosing hardware, keep in mind that they have weaker sound chips and most components are not interchangeable. I also recommend connecting an external sound card, ie USB, to improve the performance of your laptop or MacBook. For tower PCs, consider installing a powerful sound card before purchasing. Many tower owners also use a USB port.

Microphone Selection

When it comes to microphones, you can choose between dynamic and large-diaphragm condenser mics. Thanks to the large membrane, the latter is a good choice for vocal and vocal studio recordings. Most of today’s products can also magically connect to a USB audio interface and feed directly into the computer.

fast internet connection

In the digital age, a fast internet connection is essential. Many music software providers only offer their products online, not on physical media. In addition to this, these manufacturers regularly provide new updates, some of which cover several gigabytes. Therefore, a fast internet connection is very beneficial.

a lot of memory
big hard drive
fast internet

Choose speakers or headphones?

Opinions differ on this question: Which is better for mixing music, speakers or headphones? I recommend both. Headphones are great for listening to any instrument. At best, headphones should be closed so that no sound can penetrate in or out. More on headphones.

Speaker cabinets can revolutionize the sound experience, if ever made with headphones. Therefore, I recommend alternating between headphones and speakers when mixing. Ultimately, the song must be easy to hear on all playback devices (system, laptop, smartphone). For this reason, test finished songs with a tablet or old box and listen to them “as a test” on as many playback devices as possible. This allows you to simulate how a “normal listener” would perceive a song.

Mastering Mixing Techniques

Song mixing is the highest discipline in the implementation of music production technology. All tracks of the recording were remastered and put together. The penultimate step in the recording studio is mixing before mastering.

The final step in music production is the mastering process.

When choosing your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), make sure it supports mixing and mastering tools. This makes it easier for you to edit and mix music yourself. You can find out more about choosing the right music program for you in the next section.

Speaker/Display
earphone
Multiple devices to test

Selection of music processing software

Which music production software do you recommend? During my time as a musician, I have worked with many music programs. Start with Music Maker, through Music 2000 to Reason. In the end, I got stuck with Frutiy Loops (also FL-Studio*). For me, choosing a music program is a matter of personal preference, with no clear recommendations.

Which software is best for making music and mixing is individual and depends on your needs.

Appropriate music software

What is the right music software for me? It depends on what you want to achieve. Basically, the free audio recording program Audacity is good enough for recordings or guitar tracks. If you want to get into music production completely then I recommend a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).

Music Program Overview

You can use many music programs to create your own musical ideas.

Classic notation programs, such as Octava or Musecore, where you enter your own notes and add instruments to them.

A recording program like Audacity, which you can use to record, edit, and cut guitar tracks or recordings.

A production program (DAW) that combines recording and editing, such as Cubase or FL-Studio.

application

You no longer need a PC or Mac to make music. Great musical ideas can also come true from your smartphone or iPad. Very handy when you have an idea sitting on the train. Here are some of my top suggestions:

FL-Studio Mobile: The perfect DAW for mobile and my favorite mobile composition software.
Native Instruments iMachine: An app with a large library of sounds for making beats.
Yamaha MG Rec & Play: This allows you to make high-quality audio recordings.

Magix Music Maker Free Edition

The free version of Magix Music Maker is a great introduction to music making. It contains a large selection of sounds, loops and effects. There are also instruments and synthesizers that can be programmed note by note. definitely worth a try

Find musical inspiration

Where do you get the inspiration for a song? Here are some of my tips:

music is a craft

Music is art on the one hand, but hard work on the other. The best way to gain basic knowledge is to “recreate” famous songs, which will give you a feel for how the song works. Sometimes they even generate ideas of their own.

Proficiency in musical instruments is another advantage

It is recommended to master an instrument for composing. The beauty of this is that you can improvise and let your emotions run free. Plus, melodies conceived with midi keyboards can be realized and transferred to the DAW much faster. But guitarists can also use the interface to input their melodies directly into music software.

Find an audience to test your work

When you’re ready to finish a song, play it to a close confidant as a test. This could be acquaintances, friends, or family. Always remember that criticism is more valuable than hymns for your development. Soak up any constructive criticism like a sponge, and try to use it to improve your music production. Sometimes it can be helpful to let a song you just made sit for a few days and listen to it later. This might give you new ideas.

refer to other songs
master a musical instrument
allow constructive criticism

FAQ

Which program can make music?

There are many high-quality music programs and DAWs out there. The most famous music production software applications are: Ableton, FL-Studio, Cubase, PreSonus Studio One, Pro-Tools, Logic and Reaper.

What are the best music shows?

Which music program is best for you is entirely personal. It must support your workflow so that you can implement your ideas as accurately as possible. The most commonly used programs are Cubase, Logic and FL-Studio.

What does a good recording need?

To get a good quality recording, you need a powerful PC, an interface, good headphones, and of course, a suitable microphone.

11 Tips for Making Money with Your Music

Are you a passionate musician? Everything you create comes from your heart and deepest beliefs? So why not make money from your music? I’ll show you how to do this in the blog post below.

Performances as a band or solo artist

A tried and tested way to make money from music is to play solo at events like weddings or local gigs/festivals. In addition to fees, this opportunity also provides opportunities for self-promotion to increase visibility. In addition, it is also possible to contact and sell some sound carriers at the same time.

Create a website and showcase your strengths

It sounds corny, but the first step to getting noticed on the internet is creating a website. Not all potential listeners are mobile on Facebook, Soundcloud, Instagram or other well-known social networks. With a website, you have a unique internet address that every audience around the world can access and contact.

sell music licenses

You don’t have to belong to a record label or label to sell your music. Digitization has created many opportunities for you to independently make money from your music on the Internet. For example, you could make your music available on iTunes, Spotify, or your own website and sell licenses based on the type of usage. At this point I suggest reading my article “What is Royalty Free Music?” to read through.

Songwriting and composition for others

Maybe you find writing lyrics or composing music easy? Then offer your services for sale. You can support other musicians or give them advice. By participating in the creation, you have the potential to benefit from royalties as a co-author of the work.

movies and commercials

There are all kinds of filmmakers looking for independent music. Especially in the Internet and advertising industries, there are many people who are looking for personalized music for their projects, and are often willing to pay for good music production.

produce for others

Some bands are very talented, have great ideas and are very dynamic. Most of the time, however, they lack equipment or recording skills. As a producer, you can step in and support the recording of the album. You can mix songs and get paid for it.

donate button on website

You can generate extra income by having a donate button on your website. Fans who enjoy your music will most likely pay a few euros. For example, you can use Paypal and embed it on your website. You can also create a profile on Patreon or Steady, which generates regular income.

sell goods

It sounds weird, but selling merchandise is all the rage right now. It’s easy to generate high income and fill a band’s coffers. Perfect for t-shirts, stickers, bags, mugs or badges. You can also sell limited editions of different designs. Providers will include Spreadshirt or Spreadshop.

music class

As a musician, you have likely amassed a vast intellectual wealth. Why not pass it on? If you are a guitarist, you can offer guitar lessons. You can also produce and sell teaching materials for schools. More information on Delivering Music Lessons Online.

live

Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, many musicians have had to leave live performances. Live streaming has established itself as an alternative. This can be done on various platforms like YouTube or Twitch. Additionally, you can incentivize viewers to donate or subscribe during your live broadcast, securing additional income and possibly even gaining a new fan or another.

Create a YouTube channel

Don’t forget, YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world (after Google). That said, a lot of people are looking for music-related information on the platform. So how do you demonstrate insight into what you know or how you work here? With a large audience, you can earn money through advertising revenue. Plus, you can better market your music with a large reach.

Conclusion “Make money with music”

As you can see, there are many ways to make money from music. It’s important that you take advantage of the nearly endless possibilities of the Internet and stay on top of developments as they emerge in order to build your brand and get your music known. The most important points are summarized below:

show money
Extra income from own homepage (ads/donate buttons)
Earn money by producing and composing music for others (remixes, film projects, participation)
Generate income through knowledge transfer (YouTube channel, teaching)

The Effects of Music on Body, Mind and Soul

Music is power; people have had this awareness since ancient times. Even though the prevailing view at the time was that music affected people so much that it had to be reined in politically, there was still a recognition that music was powerful because, as a universal language, it evoked emotions and could therefore used in a targeted manner. Society today uses this phenomenon as a remedy in many fields: for example, in the field of education, or in various fields of therapeutic medicine.

The effect of music on the body

Music has an effect on many physical processes in the body: it changes the heartbeat, affects breathing rate and blood pressure, affects muscle tension and hormonal balance. Music can inspire, make you happy, calm, relax, recall, and even relieve pain. The reason for this lies in the natural response to the sound of music, which works with the right harmony on the limbic system – precisely where emotions arise. This is also where the perception of pain develops, suppressed by the release of pain-controlling beta-endorphins; such as soft, calm or happy sounds. These promote the release of norepinephrine, which in turn counteracts the stress hormone cortisol.

Music as a therapy: music in medicine

Therefore, music is now used exclusively in medicine. Especially in therapeutic measures in psychiatry or pain treatment, but also in the rehabilitation of stroke or Alzheimer’s patients. Especially in the treatment of psychosomatic symptoms, considerable success can be achieved with the help of the emotional effects of music. The effect of music on the ability to communicate can be helpful in this regard because music allows us to express our thoughts and feelings without words. For this reason, some universities now offer music therapy as part of a master’s degree. It examines, among other things, the extent to which music helps connect with patients who face particularly difficult challenges. This is the case, for example, in autism,

Music memory: music and making music promote synaptic networks

It has been shown that new networks of nerve cells in the brain are formed through music, especially by making music yourself. These stay with people for life. For professional musicians, playing music intensively has an effect on the structure of their brains: the horizontal bar, the so-called corpus callosum, which connects the two halves of the brain and causes coordination and interaction, is more stable in their bodies. Scientific studies have shown that in our memories, the areas that store music remain intact longer than those responsible for autobiographical memories, for example. It is this ability that music therapists use, for example, to treat Alzheimer’s patients,

Does music increase intelligence?

Despite the proven positive effects of music on mental state, mood, and health, the effect of music on human intelligence remains controversial. An experiment in the 1990s by American psychologist Frances Rauscher known as the “Mozart Effect” showed that students who listened to Mozart’s sonatas for two pianos for ten minutes performed significantly better on subsequent intelligence tests than those who Students who have not heard this piece before. However, this effect has been refuted or led to different results in other studies. Because not only the type of music has a decisive influence on our mood and performance; Mozart’s symphonies, in which sequences of players’ voices alternate in orchestral harmonies, are quite different from, for example, heavy metal songs with strong rhythms and electric guitar rock Effect. Furthermore, as experience in therapeutic medicine has shown, not all people are equally open and receptive to music. Cognitive scientist Stephen Pinker once described music as “acoustic cheesecake,” not a necessity but a deeply enjoyable add-on. However, it turns out that a lot can be achieved with the right music used in the right way. So let’s continue to enjoy the beautiful side of music – letting its different genres affect us, whether it’s pop, hard rock or classical. As experience in therapeutic medicine shows. Cognitive scientist Stephen Pinker once described music as “acoustic cheesecake,” not a necessity but a deeply enjoyable add-on. However, it turns out that a lot can be achieved with the right music used in the right way. So let’s continue to enjoy the beautiful side of music – letting its different genres affect us, whether it’s pop, hard rock or classical. As experience in therapeutic medicine shows. Cognitive scientist Stephen Pinker once described music as “acoustic cheesecake,” not a necessity but a deeply enjoyable add-on. However, it turns out that a lot can be achieved with the right music used in the right way. So let’s continue to enjoy the beautiful side of music – letting its different genres affect us, whether it’s pop, hard rock or classical.

Spring Cleaning in the Garden

Spring has begun. Despite the current mandatory disruption of public social life all over the world for health reasons, new life is beginning to unfold unhindered in nature. After early spring blooms and early-flowering shrubs die off, many locations enter breeding planting season, a sign that nesting feathered animals and critters are protected. For all garden lovers or balcony owners, this is the ideal time to prepare their favorite outdoor space for the new season. We explain what gardening jobs are currently pending.

Go Outside

Once the sun’s rays are longer and warmer, nighttime temperatures are no longer sub-zero, and the clocks switch to daylight saving time again, it’s time for all the loving gardeners among us: get outside and spruce up your garden! Those who do not have their own garden but have a balcony or small terrace are also encouraged to start working.

Planting Beets

Once the soil is frost-free, add compost or topsoil to the beds and replenish them with fresh, well-drained soil. It is now possible to grow plants that can tolerate lower temperatures, such as crops such as lettuce, cabbage or radishes. But it is also possible to grow ornamental plants that require nutrients, such as daffodils, tulips or hyacinths. They usually need additional mineral fertilizers, which should be applied by April or May at the latest, but only in small amounts. The first herbs, such as mint or basil, can now be planted in the herb garden.

Planting Vegetables

Some vegetables, including cucumbers and tomatoes, should definitely be pre-planted indoors in a sunny, warm spot before acclimating to outside temperatures until mid-May, traditionally after Ice Saints. Cucumber and tomato plants are so-called heavy feeders, meaning they draw a lot of nutrients from the soil. Therefore, they need to be fertilized regularly, for example with organic vegetable fertilizers or homemade plant fertilizers. Especially important for tomato plants: it must be protected from rain and wind. If you want to grow vegetables in the same bed for several years in a row, you should definitely have a planting plan in place, as it is important to respect the stress of the crop rotation on the soil. This means that useful plants are divided into four groups according to their different nutrient requirements, in which a distinction is made between heavy consumers, moderate consumers, weak consumers and green manures. Plants from the same group can be planted in one bed, but in different areas. These should be changed every year to emphasize the floor differently.

Pruning or Planting Pome Fruit Trees

Fruit trees such as apple, pear or quince trees tolerate pruning well in cooler temperatures down to around minus 5°C. If the temperature drops more sharply, caution is advised, as the wood is sensitive and can easily become brittle and brittle, which increases the risk of harming new shoots. These pome fruit varieties are pruned before sprouting, whereas stone fruit trees can only be pruned after the summer harvest; the wood is often more susceptible to disease. If you want to plant new pome fruit, you’ve also found the right time with moderate temperatures now. It should be noted that pome fruits always require a second pollinator of the same variety for good yields. For this purpose, the industry offers so-called duo espaliers, two fruit trees of the same variety planted opposite each other. Alternatively, make sure there is a second suitable pollinator within a radius of about 800 meters – this is the radius in which bees move as pollinators.

Maintaining and Mowing Lawns

If you have a garden with a lawn, you should start tending the lawn in April. To do this, start by removing weeds, moss, and leaves from your dry lawn. It must then be mowed before the soil is loosened and aerated with a scarifier or rake. Opinions differ when it comes to loosening the soil: While some hobby gardeners believe that regular fertilization alone is perfectly sufficient, others believe the process is necessary to allow a manicured lawn to shine in lush greenery. It is important to know that loosening soil is not the only maintenance measure. Because of moss infestation, for example, it can also be due to low soil pH. Corresponding calcium-based fertilizers can help, but only if it is clearly clarified beforehand that the moss infestation is actually due to acidic soil. Moss growth may also be due to crusting on the soil surface if pH measurements indicate that the soil is not acidic. In this case, slightly roughening the soil and tilling it in rock dust can help, which provides mineral trace elements to the soil and makes it more resistant to pests. The barren grassland should be replanted and topdressed with organic fertilizer to make the lawn fully green. It provides mineral trace elements to the soil, making it more resistant to pests. The barren grassland should be replanted and topdressed with organic fertilizer to make the lawn fully green. It provides mineral trace elements to the soil, making it more resistant to pests. The barren grassland should be replanted and topdressed with organic fertilizer to make the lawn fully green.

While the tasks of amateur gardeners and nature lovers may be varied in the spring, the garden will thank you throughout the year. Because well-prepared plants will thrive and bring a lot of joy. We hope you enjoy gardening while enjoying your oasis of well-being, and even more!

Carnival: Fun or Accident Day?

It begins with Women’s Carnival on the Thursday before Shrove Monday and ends with Ash Wednesday. Thousands of party-goers will celebrate the carnival again this year. For days there is singing, dancing – and above all drinking. But is carnival just a harmless cause for celebration? Or does this “fifth season” – especially due to the high alcohol consumption – involve an increased risk of accidents?

The origin of carnival

Since the 12th century, Christians have celebrated Carnival to enjoy the carnal and gluttonous time before Lent. The word “Carnival” comes from the Latin “carne vale”, which means “meat, farewell”. On this occasion, people dress up and roam the streets to drive away winter, demons and witches. Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia is known as the home of Carnival in Germany. Since 1823, a large procession has been held on Shrove Monday every year. The main dates for Carnival run from Weiberfastnacht (the Thursday before Shrove Monday) to Violet Tuesday (the Tuesday after Shrove Monday). It all ends on Ash Wednesday and Lent begins. Officially, however, the country’s so-called fifth season will begin on April 11.

At Carnival, we celebrate, sing, laugh…

In many cities, Carnival culminates in Shrove Monday parades. Crowds of people in disguise pour into the city – to watch the parade or take part in it in person. During the parade, sweets – originally caramel candies, so-called “llamas” – chocolates and sometimes individual flowers. Last year’s Shrove Monday parade in Cologne distributed some 300 tons of sweets to more than one million visitors. Afterwards, the festivities continue in bars or tents with lots of dancing. If you show up unabashedly, you will be noticed unhappily, at least at the risk of askew looks and comments. Because carnival people take their costumes very seriously: on average around 300 million euros are invested in self-sewing and buying costumes in Germany every year.

…and drink by the gallon.

Like the big parties, there is a lot of alcohol flowing at Mardi Gras. In Weiberfastnacht alone, more than 40,000 Alt beers are brewed by Düsseldorf’s major breweries. Unfortunately, the effects of alcohol are often underestimated. The line between “everything is fun” and a complete breakdown is often very thin. At carnivals in many places, you can already see daytime drunks stumbling through the streets. Especially notable is the fact that many young people get extremely drunk at the carnival. On the one hand, alcohol lowers the threshold of inhibition, so there is more dancing and flirting—a desirable outcome. On the other hand, however, alcohol significantly reduces risk perception – a very adverse effect. As a result, drunk driving accidents are up 25% compared to the rest of the year. There was also a significant increase in the number of bar fights and serious falls, such as when falling from a moving van or while dancing on a bench or counter. In addition, there were 529 evictions, 202 detentions and 437 reports of physical injury during Cologne Carnival 2018. There were also 106 drug abuse cases. In addition, the police received 35 reports of sexual crimes. But alcohol isn’t the only cause of anxiety. In a classic carnival parade, horse-drawn carriages also pose a risk. When a horse gallops in a parade, usually nothing happens. But don’t forget that horses are game, and although they are calm and well trained, they may be startled by something and run away at any time. In 2018, five people were seriously injured when a carriage ran away during the Rose Monday parade in Cologne.

A sober carnival as the solution?

Especially anti-Carnival opponents will certainly welcome a sober holiday, since in Cologne it has already been described as “the only wine”. But sober binge periods are not the same as accident-free periods. Even sober people are still at risk of being thrown or falling. Also, most carnival attendees see sharing a gin or beer as part of the carnival, which is why a total ban on alcohol during carnival week is likely to meet a lot of resistance.

So what help? Alcoholic beverages of one kind or another are fine as long as they are kept in moderation. However, to reduce the risk of accidents, well-known tips should be followed: create a good base for food, such as the popular carnival pastry Berliners, and sometimes skip a round and drink water in between. Also heed the adage “beer to wine, let’s be” so don’t overdo it. Not only will this prevent accidents, it will greatly reduce the chances of a hangover the next day. Let’s be honest: no one really wants to do this. Additionally, glass bans have been introduced in many places. The streets used to be littered with debris and empty glass bottles where passers-by could hurt themselves. The glass ban was met with a positive response and also kept Mardi Gras free of broken glass and cut rugs.

Valentine’s Day dos and don’ts

On February 14th it’s that time again: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. While some people are against the “token of love by appointment”, which is often expressed through standardized consumption, Valentine’s Day has a high priority for others. For a successful day, optimal preparation is the be-all and end-all. However, despite perfect planning, things sometimes go completely differently than desired – and then get out of hand. So that this doesn’t happen to you, we explain the dos and don’ts on Valentine’s Day.

The preparations are ongoing

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, masses of roses are bought and given away – more than 50 million worldwide. On average, Germans spend €50 on gifts, flowers and that cliched romantic dinner. In the USA, on the other hand, as the country of origin of Valentine’s Day, things can definitely be unromantic; The date sometimes takes place at McDonalds. Because many fast-food chains offer special menus for couples there for Valentine’s Day. And if there is no partner to give presents to, you can simply give your pet a present. At least 3 percent of all pet owners do this.

But how is Valentine’s Day a complete success? And what should be avoided?

Things to do

1. Clear agreements prevent disappointment

It’s clear: Your partner doesn’t take Valentine’s Day half as seriously as you do — so no plans. An annoying pitfall you could have easily avoided. It’s best to plan ahead so you won’t be disappointed if the day doesn’t go as planned.

2. Small gifts keep love

Instead of buying a potentially expensive gift, consider a DIY gift that can also come in the form of a small gift. This shows your partner that you’ve gotten to know him and his interests in depth and that you’ve invested time in personal gifts. A great option, because the personal alternative to almost having to go to a restaurant is co-cooking nights – eating within the four walls of your home.

3. Time instead of things

Anyone can buy material gifts for themselves. What cannot be bought, however, is time. Give your partner the gift of spending time together. There are many ideas for spending time together: Whether it’s a visit to the opera house and a romantic couples massage, or a treasure hunt and a high-ropes course for the adventurer: the gift of time is a unique and valuable option.

4. Attention is an expression of love

Small surprises and loving attention show your partner: You mean a lot to me. The creativity is limitless: small gifts like handwritten messages you stash in your car or jacket pocket so your partner can easily find them, a spontaneous call or visit, even an invitation to dinner. But consider point 1: the greater the surprise planned, the greater the disappointment if the partner expects something else.

Do not do

1. Ignore your lover

If your partner is looking forward to Valentine’s Day and simply forgets about the occasion, or worse, ignores it, it could lead to a nasty argument. It’s best to keep reminders on your smartphone or calendar. Reminders should be sent as early as possible so you don’t get a last-minute gift.

2. The Day of Love Separation

Valentine’s Day is considered a day of love. Even if you know couples who happened to be separated that day, you shouldn’t take this opportunity to separate. If you see no other way out, then do an exit interview beforehand – in person anyway, not via text (no, not even a WhatsApp voice message counts as a personal interview).

3. Excessive drinking

Especially on Valentine’s Day and the day before: if alcohol is consumed, only as tolerated. Under no circumstances should you expect your partner to hangover in bed or even be carried home by him because you can no longer be on your own. According to the individual’s physique and tolerance, drinking alcohol is allowed on Valentine’s Day, but in moderation.

Valentine’s Day is single – what to do?

Just because you’re single doesn’t mean you have to give up Valentine’s Day.

First, you can give yourself a gift. For example, treat yourself with something you’ve longed for, or pamper yourself with a bouquet of flowers, or enjoy a long sauna session.

Also consider: If you live alone, you won’t be disappointed in your partner. Enjoy your own time and follow your own preferences. Do you love cozy movie nights within your own four walls? Then go to the couch! Do you like to meet up with friends and spend an evening over good food and interesting conversations? Then pick up the phone and make an appointment! Whatever your preference: Valentine’s Day is a great time for singles to enjoy their independence.

Dangers in Winter

It is dark. It is smooth. It is dangerous. Some people don’t want to go out at all in the dreary winter weather and would rather stay safe at home. But does the cold season really hold so many dangers? How can the risks be prevented in winter? And what does a comparison of the four seasons reveal?

What dangers does winter hold?

The cold season usually brings darkness, snow and ice with it. What belongs to a real winter wonderland for one person cannot be over quickly enough for another. And not without good reason. At home, for example, the water pipes in unheated rooms can freeze and be damaged. Something similar can also happen with water connections in the garden if the supply is not shut off in good time before the cold onset. Snow avalanches falling from roofs are a rarity in our region, but we can encounter them during heavy or prolonged snowfalls at the latest on ski holidays. Apart from that, there is a risk that large icicles that have formed on the gutter will come loose and endanger passers-by.

During leisure time, large areas of ice, e.g. B. for ice skating, a popular destination. But even if these appear stable on the banks and are carrying a person, they can be unstable and collapse a few meters away. Flowing waters and waters with fluctuating water levels are even more unpredictable.

With regard to the means of transport, rail traffic can be impaired in winter due to icing on the overhead lines. On the other hand, the locks on bicycles and cars can freeze up or the battery can underperform. An area of ice can also be hidden under a blanket of snow, which can become a dangerous trap not only for motorists: cyclists and pedestrians on the sidewalk can also accidentally overlook it and slip. This danger can also exist on cleared roads, since the road salt effect can then be impaired.

Most Common Cause of Weather-Related Accidents: Rain Before Snow and Ice

According to accident statistics from the Federal Statistical Office, the proportion of weather-related accidents is significantly higher in winter than in summer. However, there are fewer traffic accidents in winter than in summer. How did this happen?

Winter: fog. snowfall. hail. Without a doubt, winter road conditions are by far the most unpredictable. But that’s why people are more careful and drive slower. Many people prefer not to drive in the first place before there is a risk of an accident on slippery roads. The low number of bicycles or motorized two-wheelers is one of the reasons why winter is not an accident-prone season. However, it should be noted that the risk of pedestrian accidents increases during the darker months.
Spring: The days are getting longer and the temperatures are getting hotter. It was still dark in the morning and the road was slippery. Out of habit, you are still cautious in traffic. The further spring goes, the more people will be attracted. People bike to work instead of driving, and many take long trips on weekends. Therefore, as the spring progresses, so does the number of accidents.
Summer: more and more people are actively involved in road traffic and spend time outdoors. Everyone feels energized – and they do. Because a good mood also increases the willingness to take risks. This is reflected in accident statistics, too: more road fatalities occur in the U.S. during warm summer months than during cold winter months. In addition to direct weather influences, there are so-called biological influences, ie the effects of weather on the human organism, its performance and mental state. In particular, the heat load has a great influence on the occurrence of accidents. According to a study by the Meteorological Institute of the Free University of Berlin,
Autumn: The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting less comfortable. People are staying at home more, and those who used to cycle in the summer are now increasingly switching to buses and trains or taking cars.

What measures can be taken to prevent accidents in winter?

As beautiful as winter is, it also brings many dangers. Accidents can happen quickly, and the consequences are sometimes painful and long-lasting. Therefore, it is very important to adapt to the changing conditions in winter in time. Here are some tips to protect yourself:

Properly heat the room and check heating operation regularly
cover sensitive plants
Insulate water pipes in areas prone to freezing or draining
park the car in the garage or cover the windows
Alert homeowners to large icicles on roof
Get the latest weather forecast and traffic information when you wake up in the morning
Wear light-coloured, high-visibility clothing, with reflective surfaces if possible
wear sturdy non-slip shoes
Always use the railing when walking on exterior stairs
Take the shortest route to cross the road, use zebra crossings and traffic lights, and avoid unlit paths
Check that the bike is roadworthy (e.g. headlights, reflectors, brakes, tread and air pressure)
For your own safety, use the bike lanes and wear a bike helmet
Drive carefully, arrange more route time, no time pressure
Be especially careful on forest and forest roads and bridges as this is where black ice forms fastest
Only enter officially approved bodies of frozen water with ice thickness of 12 cm or more. The ice rink in your area is still the safest place to skate

Digital legacy: The most important things at a glance

Our life is becoming more and more digital. We post on Facebook, Instagram & Co., save e-mails on Google and other providers, send and receive Whatsapp and other messenger messages, have user accounts with retailers, insurance companies and more. There are also digital subscriptions, such as Spotify or Amazon Prime, data from fitness trackers and countless others. But what actually happens when we are no more? And how can I ensure during my lifetime that dealing with this data is as easy as possible for my relatives – and that they know exactly what to do in my interest if the worst comes to the worst? We clarify about “digital provision”.

What is digital heritage?

Over 90 percent of Americans over the age of ten are online – and the trend is rising. Each of them leaves digital traces. Partly on their own devices such as the computer at home, the mobile phone or the digital camera. More and more ends up in the cloud and with digital providers: contract data as well as pictures, social media accounts, Netflix subscriptions, e-mail accounts and much more information. All of this exists beyond your own life. Those who regulate their digital estate early and cleverly ensure that the heirs have it as easy as possible after their own death to also manage this estate in the interests of the testator.

The heirs are required

All rights and obligations of the testator pass to the heir or heirs. So also subscriptions and contracts concluded online. After the death of the testator, the heirs must either comply with all contracts once they have been concluded or terminate them as soon as possible. Because even digitally concluded contracts usually do not just end with death. The same applies to all user and email accounts. Unfortunately, this is often more complicated than you think. If the heirs do not have the passwords, the path to deletion can be long. If you want to get access to it, you have to get it with the certificate of inheritance and some time and effort from each individual provider and service. In the end it works – but who wants to expect that from their loved ones in these difficult days of mourning? Those who take precautions in good time make it easier for their loved ones.

Appoint a confidant

The easiest way is to appoint a person of trust who will take care of the digital estate in the event of death. To do this, issue a handwritten power of attorney with date and signature in which you name your digital estate administrator. It is also important to have a list in which you list your accounts with user names and passwords. Deposit them on a password-protected USB stick or another safe place. Now all you have to do is tell your trusted person where he or she can find the stick or list and you have already achieved a lot. If you like, you can regulate your digital estate in a legally secure manner by means of a will. The same applies here: It must be handwritten, clearly formulated and signed. By the way: Google, Facebook and some others offer to specify the person of trust in the settings – for example as a legacy contact on Facebook or via the account inactivity manager on Google.

Commercial Vendors

Wenn Sie keine Vertrauensperson haben oder benennen wollen, finden Sie im Netz auch eine große Auswahl an Anbietern, die versprechen, sich für Sie um den digitalen Nachlass zu kümmern. Wie gut, wie sicher und wie teuer diese auf die Dauer sind, ist leider nicht so einfach zu sagen. Achten Sie vor Abschluss mindestens auf die Kosten und übergeben Sie besser keine Kennwörter. Die Gefahr, dass der Anbieter gehackt und die Daten anderweitig genutzt werden, ist leider real.

Delete and update

Anyone who wants to make things easier for their relatives should view and check their estate from time to time. Are the passwords and accounts still up to date? It is also very important to regularly delete content that you might not want to burden your heirs with after your death. Some photos, chat histories, and email conversations you might want to keep with you. Anyone who deletes regularly is on the safe side here – even after their lifetime.

From the hot spot MeToo, reflecting on the development of feminist art

The recent spate of women’s marches and MeToo movements have shaken up the art and culture industries, and with the frequent revelations of sexual assault, we are once again focusing our attention on the subject of feminist art. Art institutions around the world are increasingly focusing on women artists, and major solo and group exhibitions of women artists are coming up. Join us today for a look at the development of feminist art!

The Emergence and Development of Feminist Art

Feminist art is an important artistic trend that has emerged in the Western art world, reflecting the demand of some female theorists and artists to change the previous spheres of social life and male-dominated cultural phenomena in order to reconceptualize women themselves and the relationship between gender and culture.

Women’s Affirmative Action Movement

We usually divide feminism into two phases: the first wave of feminism, which took place between the 19th and early 20th centuries, centered on the struggle for women’s voting and civil rights, while the second wave of feminism, the feminist movement that emerged in the 1960s, was more broadly concerned with women’s access to more jobs and education, while emphasizing women’s sexual and family rights. Driven by the latter, awakened “new women” took to the streets to protest society’s unfair employment policies and oppressed family status and sexual freedom. This led to the emergence of women’s art as part of the second-wave feminist movement, in which women artists formed groups and held exhibitions with the intention of subverting the male-dominated discourse of art history.

Strictly feminist artists did not emerge until the 1970s. Female artists represented by Anna Mantilta, Eleanor Antin, Carolee Schneemann and Judy Chicago created impressive feminist works. Among them, American female artist Judy Chicago’s installation “The Dinner Party” can be said to be very representative. 1979 “The Dinner Party” was first exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Art, and this installation, which records 1,038 ancient goddesses or prominent women in Western history, mainly consists of a large equilateral triangular banquet table with each side 48 feet long, the triangle symbolizing women and the equilateral sides symbolizing equality. The triangle symbolizes women and the equilateral sides symbolize equality. Each side of the equilateral triangle is divided into 13 units, each equipped with a tablecloth embroidered with a woman’s name and a graphic related to her contribution, a napkin, a dinnerware set, a wine glass and a 14-inch diameter round painted ceramic plate. The 39 plates represent 39 prominent women in various fields from ancient Greece to the present, corresponding to the embroidered names. 39 plates are directly painted with female genitalia, like butterflies or flowers, and gradually change from flat to high relief in order from ancient to modern times, symbolizing the elevated status of women. The 13 women in each group who share the meal correspond to the 13 male saints of the Last Supper, elevating women to the same status as men, a heroic hymn to women. The names of another 999 prominent women are inscribed on the white ceramic floor of the equilateral triangular table known in Chicago as the “Heritage Floor” to show how many women stand behind the 39 famous women. Clearly, the work demonstrates the outstanding contributions that women have made to society from ancient times to the present, and by celebrating women, it is hoped that women will be given equal status with men and that the desire for equal rights for humanity will be realized. Politically, this work undoubtedly challenges the oppression of women under male domination in a radical way, and works to preserve the spiritual heritage created by women throughout history. At the same time, in the social context of the time, the message of this work itself is evidence of the rise of contemporary women’s art.

Judy Chicago, installation “Dinner

Today, feminist art has become an important branch of contemporary art. Feminist art represents, to a certain extent, the voice of a vulnerable and repressed group, and is an attempt to deconstruct a male-centered society. Following the second wave of feminism feminism began to take a new turn, it no longer places special emphasis on a confrontational nature, but shows women’s own joyful experiences and feelings, and feminist art has received a new interpretation.

Feminist Art Expressions

With the development of society, the topic of “feminism” has gradually been taken seriously and has become a focus of constant attention and debate. For example, on February 22nd of this year, an international symposium on “Contemporary Chinese Women’s Art” was held at the Tate Modern in London, England, co-organized by the Tate Center for Asian Studies and the Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, as part of the exhibition “Emergence: Women’s Voices in Chinese Contemporary Art. This international symposium on “Chinese Contemporary Women’s Art” was held at Tate Modern in London as part of the exhibition “Emergence: Women’s Voices in Chinese Contemporary Art. The exhibition, which spanned the entire United Kingdom, opened up more possibilities for understanding women’s art. At a time when men dominate the discourse of society, women’s voices are often ignored and drowned out. Instead, female artists have created many artworks with distinctive characteristics of the times through their perceptions of the changes of the times and their reflections on society and themselves. These works are undoubtedly representative and epoch-making in themselves, and they can arouse people’s spiritual resonance and shock.

Andrea Powers, “Marianne is a Trans-Feminist (originally from a poster for the French National War Loan, painted by Georges Scott, 1917),” 2018, price: $55,000

The 1970s was the heyday of contemporary art, and feminism found its place and avenues of appeal in the pluralistic structure of post-structuralism. It was also the most glorious time for feminist art, and many famous feminist artists emerged, emphasizing a female perspective, and their works were full of resistance and rebellion against the patriarchal center. For example, Yoko Ono’s “Slice” is one of the representative works: she sits on the floor and invites the audience to cut off her clothes piece by piece with scissors, and finally she appears naked and trembling in front of people’s eyes. There is also a female artist, Oran, who kept doing plastic surgery until her originally beautiful face became very scary. And each cosmetic procedure was filmed and toured the world. These are all excellent works of feminist art, and what they have in common is that they are fighting against a history of women being watched. Feminist art of this period is critical and in some ways can be used as a way of visual criticism of feminist theory.

Yoko Ono “Slice

Each time, people see a different Oran because the stage she performs on is the operating room and the show she performs is silicone surgery.

When it comes to the expression of feminist art, the connection with “sex” is inevitable. The emphasis on sexuality in early Western feminist art had its own special historical background. 19th century Europe was influenced by the severe religious sexual confinement of Victorian England, which imposed harsh requirements on virginity and chastity and discriminated against women; strict monogamy for life and divorce was not allowed even for couples with completely broken relationships; masturbation was considered a blasphemous sin; talking about sex was not allowed, and scientific research and artistic creation related to sex was not allowed. The sexuality-related scientific research and artistic creation were not allowed. For this reason, people were generally subjected to heavy sexual repression. This situation did not fundamentally change until the 1950s and 1960s, when society continued to treat the female body as a tool to serve men and children, and female sexual experience remained off-limits.

Later, as performance art and performing arts expanded in the contemporary field, many female artists used their bodies to interpret women’s control over their own bodies and minds. German artist Rebecca Hong uses her body as a prop to reach into the individual’s spiritual world through photography, video, and performance. One of the artist’s representative performance works is “Unicorn”, in which she wraps her naked body in cloth and exaggerates a long horn on top of her head to show a kind of extended body. This work is called “Body Sculpture”. The way the artist handles her body shows a kind of psychological tentacle, which makes people reflect on the relationship between the human body and the identity of public space. But at the same time, when female artists use sex to express their thoughts, those inappropriate acts of nudity and privacy revert back to the initial state of being voyeuristic, which is always a contradictory existence, and female art continues to develop.

Rebecca Hong “Unicorn

What exactly is feminist art saying?

In the field of art, the creators, curators, collectors, and viewers are usually men, and women are valued more for their roles of being created, viewed, and consumed (a situation that did not gradually loosen until the 1960s/1970s). This imbalance, this network of unequal power relations, is deeply rooted in human consciousness and culture. Feminist artists’ focus on female sexuality and their sexuality challenged previous societal notions of the affirmation of male sexuality and the female body as a mere vehicle for the transmission and satisfaction of male sexuality.

My Bed” by Tracy Emin

In both traditional social life and artistic expression, the female body is mostly viewed and satisfied by men, making women shy away from feeling and expressing their own bodies. However, the female genitalia, as an important part of the female body, is closely linked to women’s lives and spiritual emotions. Early feminist artists were particularly concerned with the physical basis of gender construction because they believed that the fundamental difference between male and female art was the difference in the perception of the body. Feminist art is, in part, a phenomenon in which a female performance artist uses her own body as a prototype for performance and expresses her ideas through performance and makes the audience understand and reflect on them. It is a reflection of the state of life from a woman’s perspective and a reflection on life, thus presenting the demands of women themselves. The transformation of the female body from being viewed to active self-viewing is a construction of female consciousness and a reflection on male power.

Entering public space was a common feature of women’s art and women artists in the 1970s. Women’s art was increasingly exhibited in public spaces such as museums, parks and squares, and women artists increasingly entered some large public projects to create art. However, this does not mean that women can no longer create individually. Women’s entry into public space is not because they want to enter the masculine system by recognizing male characteristics and wanting to be like men, which is against the original purpose of feminist art.

Today, feminist art is much more than simply a question of gender equality; it is more broadly linked to the social contradictions caused by race, class and other minorities, and is a contemporary practice that allows more voices of the “other” to be heard and true human rights to be liberated. As Simone Beauvoir put it, “The nonsense men invent to keep women in a state of oppression is not a question for women to emphasize that they are women, but a question to become fully human.”

Feminist Art Today

As we enter the 21st century, women’s art, despite its diversified appearance, has a generally similar trend: it weakens the confrontation between genders and instead seeks to express women’s unique ways of observing and experiencing the world, or to leave behind the constraints of gender and devote itself to the exploration of humanity in its universal sense. In terms of content, there is a decline in the use of sexual objects or direct expressions of violence or non-violence against women, replaced by recognition of women’s way of life and behavior, and deeper exploration of women’s individual inner world.

Ariel “Choke

Although in reality there are still some female artists who cater to power capital, making their erotic works generally present a situation of creation according to men’s visual aesthetic standards and perspectives and for their psychological needs. They have not succeeded in establishing an effective erotic interaction between themselves and their works, in order to break the trap that erotic or erotic depictions have been monopolized by the male gender. However, in recent years, we can also feel a new trend emerging in women’s art creation: more and more women artists are involved in thinking and creating in the current socio-political dimension. For example, Yan Yinhong’s performance work “One Man’s Battlefield” is a metaphor for the suppression of women in the power society with a nearly crazy dance, and finally, the image of a police officer hidden in the lower half of her body is shown in an upside down position. This is a typical work that critiques the social ecology through the body, and at the same time is branded with feminist characteristics.

This is undoubtedly a direct challenge to the patriarchal society in the form of art, and is a more prominent manifestation of feminist art, but from the perspective of art history, where many contemporary female artists truly distance themselves from male artists is in the reconfiguration of the structure of viewing. With the intervention of female artists’ subjectivity, the use of the female figure, especially the female body, as a viewing object, and the control and possession of the male audience over women safely hidden in elegant artworks, has been fundamentally subverted. The tradition of objectifying the female body in Western art history has continued from the Classical period and continues to dominate art production in modern art in various variants. As John Berger points out in “The Way of Seeing,” “the female body as object is not a subject matter but a form.”

Cecily Brown’s work

Feminist art has been developing for nearly half a century, but either because of preconceived prejudices or because of its own novelty, social standards and artistic mechanisms have always been harsh and severe in their evaluation, but this does not prevent feminist art from moving forward. confidence. Regardless of its profound historical function and practical mission, feminist art has at least changed the pattern of artistic existence with its pioneering and avant-garde nature.

Today, at the market level, the status and attention of women is soaring. The Tate has welcomed its first female curator and planned two of the three major solo exhibitions this year for female artists, namely American video and performance artist Joan Jonas and Bauhaus artist and textile art pioneer Anne Albers, all of these phenomena show that female art is increasingly valued by society.

Conclusion

Feminist art should express works with feminist spiritual connotations, rather than being limited to the formal level of mere nudity. Female artists should not be confined to the established male-dominated ideology but should look for socially meaningful expressive content, and on the premise of both focusing on the real life state of women without being bound by these kitschy ideas, so as to make some art works with practical and effective The future of feminist art will continue to develop as people pay attention to women as a whole and reflect on some social issues.