Fleur Spolidor
"Swimsuits series" about Women’s rights
Join the circle of “The Swimsuits series: A pictorial reflection on women’s rights” on display at the Jay Heritage Center in Rye NY.
Artist statement
The "Swimsuit Series" is a visual representation of the surreal challenges women face in society. Comprising twelve panels, each painted in acrylics on a collage of recycled materials, the series draws inspiration from real women's personal stories, news articles, and historical facts. The twelve women, depicted wearing only a bathing suit, serve as a metaphor for the twelve months of the year and the twelve labors of Hercules, symbolizing the impossible tasks that women face.
The bathing suit is used as a symbol of vulnerability and insecurity, as it is often seen as a revealing garment that can make women feel self-conscious. It also serves as a marker of women's status in society, highlighting their position as a constant subject of scrutiny.
The idea behind the series is inspired by the marketing technique of placing brands or products on people's clothing, turning them into walking advertisements. In this case, the women are advocating for their rights and speaking out against various struggles and hardships.
Each panel represents a specific story, but they also dialogue with one another, creating a narrative timeline of the situations faced by women. The series tackles issues such as the "pink tax," breastfeeding, and body dysmorphia.
The artwork is created using acrylic paint on a textured collage of recycled materials, which adds a rough and imperfect quality to the paintings. This contrasts with the traditional notion of classical painting as a window into a perfect world. The background structure shines through the painted image, marking the female bodies with imperfection and roughness, much like life's experiences are etched onto our skin. The series offers an unflinching look at contemporary women - imperfect, real, and resilient.
It all began with two striking images that sparked the creation of this powerful and thought-provoking series.
Exhibition at the Jay Heritage Center, Rye NY, with the support of a 2023 Arts Alive grant, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts through its Statewide Community Regrant program and administered by Arts Westchester.
