Torgelow News

Artwork of the Month April

Schloss Torgelow: Boarding School & High School Torgelow News Artwork of the Month April

What is the name of the picture?

“Hide I”

What was the task?

Engage with the approaches of photography history. Choose an artist or a period in the history of photography. Present a series of photographs created by yourself, inspired by the selected artist, and find a suitable theme for it.

What have you done well?

I was able to successfully depict the complexity and the issues between the true inner self and the imposed outer appearance. Features of my artist (Annegret Soltau) were incorporated into my photography. My goal was to create art that people, especially women, can identify with, and according to the feedback from the course, I have succeeded in this.

Tell us something about the meaning of the image. What could it signify?

As the title suggests, I would like to address the silencing of women by society, through social norms, and also by themselves. In many discussions, one often hears that women act too “emotionally” or are “hormone-driven,” which is even used as an argument for why women should not enter politics. However, in most cases, these feelings are not hormonally induced, but rather well-founded and rational. Nevertheless, women are expected to behave sweetly and quietly – an expectation that has been instilled in girls since childhood.

In a way, this is also self-criticism, as in many situations, instead of standing up for oneself and showing one’s true self, one remains silent and hides within. This is symbolized by the closed eyes: one protects oneself from the “horror” that many women around the world experience. However, by closing one’s eyes, one does a favor to the perpetrators, because as long as one does not look, one cannot criticize or change anything.

It is important to emphasize that the silencing of women is not a problem of the past or of developing countries. It also affects our societies, where women do not have authority over their own bodies in matters such as abortion rights and their voices continue to be ignored in cases of rape (e.g., the film industry).

In summary, the image “Hide I” criticizes the societal norms into which even the modern woman is forced. One should be obedient, conform, yet in reality, I scream internally and break under the pressure of my environment to finally meet their expectations. The theme of women having their voices taken away remains highly relevant, as women’s rights are increasingly being “rolled back” in many countries. As a result, the legacy of those women who fought for women’s rights and took to the streets to achieve change is increasingly silenced. The photography serves as a plea to all of us to question ourselves less, stand more firmly by our true selves, and not let anyone dictate how we should be.