By Farah Wardani
Bentara Budaya, Friday, 05 September 2003
Writing is a development of the paper that I presented in the discussion "feature of Women", which became part of the organization of exhibitions photography "Eyes of Women" in Oktagon Gallery, Jakarta, June. When first asked to identify the characteristics merisalahkan women in art Indonesia, I must admit that I felt a little difficulty. Because for me the term "female traits" that was already so problematic.
BY therefore, I prefer to use the term? To-women-an? to mark a broader conception would aspects inherent the definition of women themselves. This paper is a crude attempt for, first, tracing the development of the process definition? to-women-an?
it. This search could certainly not bring the problems in development practice and theory of feminism and gender discourses widely, and also how this affects and terrefleksi of art practice. After that, what I am trying to do also is to look back at how identification? to-women-an? It can further unexplored in the theory gender, and its application in reading the works of art related with this theme.
I. ? The women's?: Gender, and feminism binary opposition
Is really? To-women-an? that, if he is? And how should identify it? For those who choose to hold on to kehakikian concept of women as an absolute thing, this might
not a questionable thing again. ? Women? is a the natural thing, and also always paired with a binary opposition referred to as? man? with all the attributes that are being considered inherently essentialist. So, what is called? To-women-an? these generally can be defined easily, and is always paired are dichotomous with what is regarded as? to-man's?: smooth / rough, weak / strong, passive / active, small / large, submissive / aggressive, and so on. Core of it is the Body, as the lines of the absolute limit.
Dichotomy and the absolutism of this body functions that ultimately lead to a hierarchy in social life in various cultures that dominate heritage values
in the world today, one with what we know as patriarchy in particular. Feminism and gender ideology that is applied in Indonesia also inevitably wake of the adaptation model derived from the West, especially in terms of resistance to the patriarchal system that has been rooted in social structure of Europe since the first. However, the extent of this dialogue will developed and applied contextually still be questioned, and It could not be done without seeing and reviewing the way practices and gender discourse that has developed in the West.
When feminism emerged and began to flare up in the West thanks to the changes social pattern, especially since the industrial revolution, what happened was a contradiction of class (class struggle) between women as a social group against mengopresinya social groups, namely the men, with the aim to achieve alignment, or maybe sometimes opresor replace the position. Can be seen, this is still based
consensus will be a binary opposition between men and women as mentioned in above.
In further development, the dialectics of gender and feminist discourse in the West
better loose yourself reaching aspects of the more diverse the the development of new theories are expected to be able to give the perception that more openly about gender issues, sexuality and identity as well-if not more radical sort. This is also caused by the development discourse postmodernism and poststrukturalisme, which among other things feminism leads to further stage, such as what is called postfeminisme.
Postfeminisme can not be recorded as only wrestle on the problem? To-women-an? or representing women only, but also in the end he became part of the very berinterrelasi of postmodernism and postrukturalisme itself. He became a union framework very dialectical discourse in the challenge gender widely, with surgery starting from the perspective of semiotics, linguistic, cultural studies, postcolonialism, and so on, with the theorists such as Julia Kristeva, Luce Irigaray, Hélène Cixous, Gayatri Spivak, and others.
Interaction between theory and practice of art and then produce widespread development of western art, whether done by women began by Carolee Scheemann and Hannah Wilke in 1960, Mary Kelly, Ana Mendieta, Marina Abramovic, Cindy Sherman and after a lot of questioned the issue of the relationship between gender, identity, and representation. In Moreover, the further development, this leads to the expression
freedom of selfhood and sexuality as did Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas in the 1990s, or the manifesto also gay / lesbian in the art.
Before moving to the discussion of the development of gender theory, re - to the problems that I mentioned at the beginning of this writing, when to see again how? women? or? to-women-an? put forward in art Indonesian way. First of all who have expressed the views of travel Indonesian art history, especially in the period before the decade of the 90's, application to? women?'s still struggling on the representation problem, ie women as objects. 'Obyektivikasi' this woman could mean in terms of Body, which to some extent rooted in modernism Mooie Indie and the continued afterwards, and also obyektivikasi her own issues, which could also be related to the position of inaugural issue of women artists in art form itself.
Regarding the latter, which is hard to let go of the suspicion of 'pengetengahan' figure women themselves as icons of a certain moral 'propaganda' which often becomes the target eventually 'obyektivikasi' and commodification. This can be seen from the many works of art about women who created by female artists themselves, where 'pengetengahan' be limited to women as ideological issues, which ultimately often trapped at the level of representation and identity politics. This is not become a thing that is not feasible, but the assessment of the works of art This must be balanced by an awareness of context and suspicion the new Orientalism? idolize? pemojokan third world women.
Problems appreciation and acceptance of? To-women-an? in this art, on the other side is also something that is not less important and are worth questioned the basics. From here, further suspicion is: study gender or feminism in here is still struggling in the level of movement social groups, which can base an adaptation of the values
Western feminism is not accompanied by the development of a balanced dialectic. This
also of course closely connected with the broader suspicions will practice fine art (contemporary) that most are still to be addressed as a political medium to convey messages that represent social interests or ideology particular, either by itself perupanya, art critics, audiences and the related.
Therefore, any appreciation of art should be alert to the pitfalls discourse and ideology like that, and try to do the exploration of ground or other point of view more to offer new possibilities, apart from the political issues of identity and representation. This is where lies significance of the development of art treatise process more open to the framework of gender theory and identity, which can be a point if readings will reject this issue offers a better perception and reflection
new. A theoretical framework I will describe below is about Subjectivity study, which is widely used to analyze the deconstructive essential conceptions of the discourse of gender, identity, and also sexuality.
II. "Subjectivity": gender as a text
Dialectic is happening in art, in this case that developed in the West, both in practice and at the level of discourse is always connected and supported with the development of gender studies and theories that also interact with socio-cultural changes around them.
When talking about? To-women-an? in particular, or gender in Generally, the time now when the values and all things considered essentially continue to shift rapidly and loose, in the definition of binary opposition Gender did not escape into something that continues to question, and even challenged in various studies, mainly based poststrukturalisme.
Poststrukturalisme known with one big argument that all things in this world is a sign (signs), takes us on an idea that gender, which includes the concept of femininity and masculinity, is a series of social construction. Conflicts that occur later are not just ranged between female and male domination, but on every subject
of social construction.
In this level, one of the most prominent study is about Subjectivity, a little more grounded in a combination of semiotics or the science of signs and psychoanalysis of Jacques Lacan's theory of stages formation of human identity (the mirror phase-symbolic-real). Body image and language becomes a big element in the theory of Lacan, who offers ideas of how the identity of a subject is formed in a controlled world of phallus (phallosentrisme). In this case, the phallus in the Western culture is not just a marker of male genitalia (penis), in a large scale it is symbol of power and subordinating the activities of his other considered ? not complete? (lacking), and serves as a passive recipient.
Subjectivity emphasized the rejection of the Cartesian concept of cogito will (human
mind) as a central control center where it terhasilkan meaning. In short, Subjectivity trying to see how humans are formed as a subject, a perspective to see how the identity formed by recognizing the role of discourse, knowledge, history and constructions others in it, which was controlled by the subject itself. Deep this perspective, the subject is stuck with the constructs that have been there but it also always open to transformation by increasing it merge with the outside world, and the process of transformation within the subject This endless which ultimately makes the difference of each subject. Just as the meaning of the sign is always shifting, as well as humans as subjects.
Study Subjectivity is often the difference dipersandingkan with analysis, which
related to the method of Derrida's deconstruction of the text style, and in the end often time is also used to lift a study gay / lesbian (Queer Theory). Gender and sexuality, in this case is the text, which should poststrukturalisme states that the world was built by the text that continues to flow crosses and the shift between signs and meaning. Gender is no longer a being, but becoming.
III. ? Women? as a sign: "Ecriture Feminine" and the "Subaltern"
Departure from these Subjectivity framework, some Western feminist theorists trying to develop a variety of arguments that attempt to deconstruct the discourse textual is considered to have been built by placing the phallus as the center phallogocentrism), especially in those who have feminine-masculine structure.
Hélène Cixous phallogocentrism forth his opposition to what he called? ecriture feminine?, which is seeking forms of writing from body? the feminine? (aka marginal), to release the linguistic system and labeling of the binary opposition during this trick, and offers new possibilities in articulating the difference. The main purpose
Cixous is an attempt to emphasize discourse and rewrite history which has been dominated by phallosentrisme. From other regions, Cixous's argument is somewhat parallel to the introduced by Gayatri Spivak in which he called? hegemonic Historiography?, which is widely criticized the dominance of Western texts in uilding
discourse construction history of the world. Hegemony of Western text is also utomatically influential in building the image and representation of the arginalized, especially Third World women are often the object orientalisasi. Based on this, he will sue the position of the subaltern (those who textually marginalized by history, such as women, minorities, skin color, and the Third World) to be included in the text.
Contradictions of such textual dichotomy of feminine-masculine and the central and marginal areas are set forth only in the analysis of differences, ie about hybridity and? that-there-between? or? the in-between?. Deep framework of gender as text, Cixous itself formulate a metaphor about ? Bisexuality? to which every human being, in which each subject has every element in a binary opposition that have been the difference boundary, as feminine / masculine, active / passive, positive / negative, etc.:
"What I Propose here leads directly to a reconsideration of bisexuality. To reassert the value of bisexuality. Hence to Snatch it from the fate classically reserved for it in which it is conceptualized as? neuter? because, as such, it would aim at warding off castration. Bisexuality that melts together and effaces (?) Writing is the passageway to open up the other in me, the feminine, the Masculine. "
Thus, each subject has the ability to switch antartanda (polymorphous), or are in between the layers of meaning between one and another, also between binary pposition. Writing is one way out potential ? Bisexuality? it. I perceive that writing (writing / ecriture) is termed by Cixous is to create a text or play with signs, so in this case was the practice of art is included.
IV. Reading back exploration "Subjectivity" in the work of art
For me, the study of gender deconstruction and Subjectivity in the draw as a reference to be applied as a reference for the practice of art criticism way, particularly those involving issues of identity, sexuality, and gender. Especially with more memaraknya contemporary art world today, together with the more erimbangnya position and the number of women artists and male artists, and various manufacturing processes theme in the works of art, in Where exploration game selfhood and visual signals become more intense.
Here I am trying to summon some of the work of artists that I value represents enough to offer signs of digging would sexuality, gender, identity of a subject and constructions surrounding it. Specifically and intentionally include a visual artist I am a man, Nindityo Adipurnomo, because interesting to see how he plays the signs
feminine as part of the creative process associated with formation of self as subject.
Women Writing the Body: Body Contemplation Tita Rubi
Works of Tita, as the dihadirkannya had solo exhibitions some time ago,? Se (Body)? most of the bodies show no complete with a background that suggests the context of space and a certain position, marked capacity of the woman who made dysfunctional by the room where he was.
Some of his works summon the removed parts of the body, not in the sense cut or eliminated, but more like a closed, blocked or concealed, which suggests the potential also silenced or veil defense. Body that complements other subjects in the surroundings, such as as women who become partners for a man, wife, mother, and part of society, but the construction of walls and screens that make incomplete body. The body was kept for a full position in the space becomes a prison and place sheltering.
Masturbation sublime IGAK Murniasih
Set forth in the adaptation technically Pengosekan Balinese style, the works of Pure
the antithesis of challenging stereotypical Balinese paintings, especially as generally known from the works of Rudolf Bonnet and others. The parts of the naked body of deformable, mixed in with the objects fantasy and absurdity, vagina, breast, mouth, tongue, sense of pain and enjoyment, which all presented actively and aggressively.
At Pure, painting as a means of masturbation. In an environment in where sex becomes an obsession as well as commodities, dialtarkan woman's body in such a a way to put women in a prison passive narcissism. Seeing the works to be reminded of Pure like the other side of sexuality women, a narcissistic desire to reclaim his own body
has too many terperkosa, submitted to enjoy the other. Deep intercourse with each organ itself, the body that finds itself you are welcome.
Finding Space? All-there-between?: Feminine-Masculine Jukstaposisi Sekar
Jatiningrum
In a world that was created Sekar Jati in his works, feminine signs mixed collide with images of Grotesque, rough, hard and dark-in short, a 'jukstaposisi' between femininity and masculinity. We can see that both elements appear with the full voltage in the works Sekar, 'keburukrupaan' interfere with such a beautiful, violence is so smooth, makes us question the return of all the signs are there in the dichotomous perceptions.
Sekar works offer an invitation to explore the other in Ourselves, another self untouched by the signs that build teak external self-perhaps an alter-ego, androgin space, or our potential bisexuality?
Linga-Yoni identity Nindityo Adipurnomo:? The Javanese Subject?
Apart from the absolute symbolic meaning representing ethnic Javanese (with feminine connotation), bun in the hands of the formalists Nindityo become an object full sexual sign, and open to metamorphosis, change shape into phallus, or yoni, or both. All the work in the series bun This presents a figure who haunted the formation of his anxiety will as the subject, in this case as a man of Java (Modern).
The image that many terepresentasikan Java is a construction value of hierarchical and patriarchal masculinity by association-like phallosentrisme West and Islam. However, seeing the work we carried Nindityo to consider another position in the formation of a figure phallus subjects Java, in which the phallus is reflected in his works is emasculated phallus, born not of Masculine activity, but of feminine passivity, longing for union with the yoni won back his strength.
The subject of Java was isolated in her throne in a society that expressed sexually, torn between the paradox of the shadows phallus and yoni are no longer united as before. In short, the works Nindityo offers a stimulus to explore gender re 'pewacanaan' Javanese culture, a conception of how meaning-yoni phallus that actual
developed in connection with the problem of hierarchical positions and values that later created.
Finally, when returning to the question at the beginning of this essay,? Whether actually the women of that?? and if he's there, that might be formulated within the framework of the above study are:? to-women-an? (or too ? the men's?) is there in that it comes as something created of tagging systems and social construction in the community, form representation of what is referred to as female, male or other definitive interpretation. These systems, however, continue to be in dialectical process that made him vulnerable to change.
On top of that, which can offer from here is a deeper exploration about the women of these, which can lead us to the various possibilities, suppose that a proof of women 'kehakikian' inherent, or whether women's liberation as well as entities which stand
itself, apart from the body of the woman's own. Identification process must be done even look into the existing context and also in development of signs of processing both visual and verbal walk. Fine art as a field meeting of the creative process is one means of which gives the channel an infinite reflection in processing analysis
these signs productively. The works of art that is created is both product and part of the process of shocks and phenomena existing in social construction, and conversely it also can also enrich the way formation that constructs itself.
Farah Wardani Graduates Goldsmith College, London. Active as a critic and Curator of Fine Arts. Chief Editor of Journal of Visual Art Carbon. Lecturer of History at
Direction Design Paramadina University, Jakarta
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