calling all ART lovers

Calling all ART lovers!!!

Do you find the idea of artistic representation of female genitalia disturbing? 

What about male genitalia, does that bother you too? 

While penises are displayed and glorified everywhere from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to your local art museum, the classical ART world tends to hide vulvas.

How can we use ART to destigmatize the female body and contribute to the conversation of female pleasure? (we don’t have all the answers. We’re asking ~you~ for help. In the meantime, here are some ideas…)

Capital A-R-T ART, capitalized for ~extra emphasis~

= A tool for… 

• Let it be a tool of expression for any, for all, for whoever wants to reflect themselves in it and reflect in what ART is
• Let it be a tool for the deconstruction of sexual taboos and preconceived ideas imposed by the male gaze

= Radical exploration…

• Let us explore through ART a more positive//healthy outlook on sexuality 
• Let us explore our bodies as ART, ourselves as ARTistic bodies

= Turning towards more fun…

• Let ART be fun!!!
• Let us celebrate ART, and really ~celebrate~, because when we celebrate ART we celebrate the ARTist, a human…

ART can be an exploration of pleasure, a labor of love…

This new ART world is for everyone, all identities are welcome to join this conversation.

Room for suggestions: 

Dear reader, we represent only a small group of voices and identities. Your voice is important, too. Put your fingerprint on this manifesto: have fun, ~always~ be respectful, and happy brainstorming...  

I believe we can make the ART world a ____________ place by including ______________ and by celebrating ______________. To destigmatize pleasure and all bodies, I propose more representation of ________________. I feel most excited by ART when the ARTist  ___________________. I do not believe that ___________________ should be accepted in the ART world. I want a new ART world, one that is _______________, ______________, and most importantly: ______________.

Thank you for adding your voice to the collective. Keep this manifesto, rewrite it, re-consider it, and if you want to share; snap a photo, scan the QR code below and send us your ideas... xx

Proposals for (an) art world(s) is the final project of the Curatorship Seminar, coordinated by Luísa Santos, of the MA students in Culture Studies of The Lisbon Consortium of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. The contents and opinions expressed in the manifestos and the texts are the sole responsibility and authorship of the curators.

Manifesto after workshop with White Pube written by: Valentina Vallejo; Catherine Jansury; Rodrigo Lourenço; Emma Legaye; Bruno Castro This project is only possible with the support of: CECC (Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Cultura, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas, Universidade Católica Portuguesa); FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia); and DGArtes (Direção Geral das Artes – República Portuguesa, Cultura)