Peter Houk

Big Dig #64

2012

Narrow necked low fired saggar vase - works by Tamsin Levene ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Ceramic on Glass Edition of 1 40 H x 30 W x 30 D cm (15.75 x 11.81 x 11.81 in) ARTIST BIOGRAPHY...

A continuation of her evocative Venice Biennale's installation, Bertlmann creates this sculpture as a symbol of both attractiveness and strength. Knife-rose by Renate Bertlmann Murano glass and metal, protected by acrylic case Edition of 50, plus 20 APs In mint Condition, accompanied by Certificate of Authenticity Acquired directly from the manufacturer Signed, numbered and dated PLEASE NOTE: Edition numbers could vary from the one shown in the pictures. A continuation of her installation, 'Discordo Ergo Sum‘ ('I dissent, therefore I am‘); which consisted of 312 glass roses, Bertlmann represented the Austrian Pavilion, as the first female solo artist, at the 58th Venice Biennale in 2019, where she focuses on the dichotomy of the human existence. The focal point of Bertlmann´s practice lays within the playground of gender and social issues, as can be seen in Knife-rose, an edition of 50 hand-blown Murano glass roses. The flaming and voluptuous red rose may be inviting, but from its core a sharp knife penetrates its petals and is ready to defend itself, awaiting an attack. "Perhaps it was novel for me to focus from the very start on investigating and developing a new image of the male by the female and did not restrict myself to developing a new image of the female by the female."—Renate Bertlmann RENATE BERTLMANN Austrian feminist avant-garde artist, Renate Bertlmann´s multimedia practice explores the gender roles within societal conventions. Her provocative pieces challenge the way women are held back by societal conventions. Active since the 1970s Bertlmann, who was born in Vienna in 1943, has worked in a variety of mixed media; including collages, drawings, photographs, photo-films, performances, and sculptural objects. The fil rouge of her work is the ambivalence of the feminine and masculine relationship, pursuing, often also with humor, an interrogation on gender relations. "My main interest became the phenomenon of male abuse of power; power as disinhibiting aphrodisiac, especially within the realm of sexuality."—Renate Bertlmann In 1975, Bertlmann participated in the ground-breaking exhibition 'MAGNA. Feminismus: Kunst und Kreativität' [MAGNA. Feminism: Art and Creativity] curated by fellow feminist artist Valie Export...