The Divided Woman

The Divided Woman brings together three women artists from Cluj, Romania: Teodora Axente, Oana Farcas and Ioana Iacob. The exhibition explores the notion of the representation of 'woman' as an evolving entity composed of separate parts. For many women, the challenge of assuming multiple roles that have to be constantly adapted according to shifting societal norms and personal pressures, engenders the feeling of being divided into a myriad of overlapping or more often, opposing guises.

These particular artists have all considered the complex subject of the contemporary woman in their practice, and investigated notions of identity, representation and the often performative role of woman as subject. They are also painters from a city that is increasingly recognised by the art world as producing some of the strongest and most exciting contemporary painters working today. Several of their male counterparts have achieved enormous success, yet there has been comparatively little attention afforded to the practices of the women painters working in Cluj by the international audience. Additionally, the challenge of working in the male-dominated context of Cluj in a society that in many ways remains traditionally patriarchal, and even misogynistic in its attitudes, is not an easy one, and this too deserves due consideration.

The Divided Woman will consider the different ways that each artist investigates the female subject. It will look at the role of the local artistic and social context within which these women work, but it will also consider the changing global context, how social media and the Internet are impacting on women's identity and sexuality, and examine the historical position of women artists working amongst a school of highly visible and successful men.

Curated by Jane Neal.

An independent curator and writer, Jane Neal has been described as a leading expert on the contemporary art scene in Eastern Europe by ARTINFO and The Financial Times. Neal writes for a variety of international publications including l'Officiel Art and Dry Collectible. She co-authored 'Cities of the Future: 21 Century Avant Gardes' for Phaidon, writing the chapter on Cluj. Neal is currently exploring how European art movements of the early Twentieth Century are inspiring artists working today. Neal was educated at Oxford University and the Courtauld Institute, London. She continues to live and work between Oxford and London.