At the studio, there's a "post-it" note on the table that reads "Maenads or Maenads will come." I remember jotting down a note about Maenads, describing them as wild, powerful, and sometimes dangerously erratic women in Greek mythology, and how I found their presence intriguing. However, I couldn't recall why I used to (or still do) add the phrase "or Maenads will come" to scare children, similar to saying "the doctor, the police, the neighbors, aunt/uncle will come." I couldn't figure out why I kept this threat tucked away for what reason. Then, in my notebooks, fabrics, and papers, the figures of Maenads that I had imagined in my mind - or not - started to emerge.
These figures were irregular, uncontrolled, and appeared to be scattered around, mostly feminine, sometimes half-animal, half-monster, and half-plant. In contrast to the societal order created by exaggerating dualities such as inside-outside, top-bottom, male-female, together-opposed, I expanded the margins of the bodies I drew. I eliminated the taboos and rituals associated with the female body, which has historically been depicted as either monstrous or benevolent, and drew figures that were monstrous and animal-like, in contrast to the clean, controlled, and orderly bodies. Cut, torn fabrics, dangling strings, landscape pieces that were neatly severed and attached to another part became the space for these figures.
Blood, milk, sweat, hair. The boundaries are deliberately blurred.
Monika Maron's "Animal Triste," Jane M. Ussher's "Managing the Monstrous Feminine," Liv Strömquist's "Fruit of Knowledge" books, Louise Bourgeois's drawings, Vera Chytilova's "Daisies" film, "I May Destroy You" series, Aylın Aslım's "Gülyabani" song, Hettie Judah's "How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers" book, and the workshop held in Zurich by Zurih are the primary sources of inspiration for these works.*
With her practice that examines the roles of women in social and cultural contexts and the ongoing problematic representation of women in art, Seda Hepsev presents free women's stories in her new exhibition consisting of 14 pieces of watercolor on fabric and wire sculptures. The leading roles in these stories are taken on by the "Maenads," who in Greek mythology are known to be wild, powerful, and potentially dangerous in moments of madness.
Seda Hepsev's "Dinosaur-Like Emotions" exhibition can be seen at x-ist from November 17th to December 16th.