back to the overview I deutschsprachige Version des Textes In her project, artist Oana Maria Pop is engaging in a profound exploration of the intersection between language, abuse against women, and the visual representation of trauma. In this evocative project, Pop delves into the disturbing narratives of femicide, attempted murder, and rape, dissecting the written language of media reports and unearthing the implications of the spoken word through intimate interviews with women living in Berlin. In her investigation of written language, Pop brings to light the grim reality of gender-based violence. She extracts headlines from press stories reporting these heinous crimes and turns them into haunting maps of pain. These “drawn maps” not only represent the stories but also unveil the very streets and pavements where these atrocities occurred. Within these maps, we encounter puddles of pink silicone, a recurring leitmotif that symbolizes the female form, a stark reminder of the body subjected to violence. The accompanying photographs provide a visual tapestry, revealing the approximate locations of these crimes, often featuring one or two strips of pink silicone, a powerful symbol of the sensationalism that often permeates media headlines. These silicone strips mirror the ostentatious manner in which press titles are constructed, emphasizing the gendered pink that is too often thrust upon women. Video: YES, AND… productions GmbH & Co. KG Pop’s art transcends the realm of written language to depict the emotional impact of these narratives. Her paintings serve as a bridge, connecting the written word to the spoken narrative. Two of these paintings, titled “A Woman Was” and “A Girl Was”, delve into the idea of the passive voice. They offer us haunting glimpses of a body, echoing the disempowerment inherent in passive language. Four paintings, each bearing the titles “Family Honour”, “Passion Killing”, “Family Drama”, and “Family Tragedy”, dissect the euphemisms frequently used in media and interviews to downplay the gravity of gender-based violence. By exploring the etymology and origins of these words, Pop reveals the disturbing disconnection between language and the actual trauma experienced by women. The words “family” and “passion” seemingly imbue intimacy and rooted connections, masking the severity of violence. Meanwhile, the words “tragedy” and “drama” distance the public from these horrific events, reducing them to mere spectacles, as if the audience is watching an ancient Greek play from a distance. A critical element in bringing the project to life involved a series of interviews conducted by the artist during her residency. Interviewees often expressed concern about the use of passive voice and euphemisms in the media. Consequently, the paintings portraying these euphemisms and passive voice serve as a link between the language in press coverage and the interviews carried out in Berlin. Passive/Active challenges us to confront the power of language in perpetuating gender violence and to question the insidious ways in which society hides behind words. This thought-provoking project calls for change, demanding a shift in our collective consciousness. Oana Maria Pop’s work implores us to break free from the passivity of language and engage actively in the fight against abuse, as we stand in solidarity with survivors and strive for a world free from gender-based violence. Text: Liviu Bulea Photo: Sebastian Kläbsch/berlinARTcore Photo: Sebastian Kläbsch/berlinARTcore Photo: Sebastian Kläbsch/berlinARTcore Photo: Sebastian Kläbsch/berlinARTcore Photo: Diana-Elena Păun Photo: Diana-Elena Păun Photo: Diana-Elena Păun Oana Maria Pop Oana Maria Pop (b. 1989) is a Romanian mixed media artist working with oil and acrylic on canvas, industrial silicone and photography. Her practice entails depictions of the neighbourhoods she grew up in and other environs that made an impression on her. The protagonist within the spaces she documents is the human form and its marks left by particular extrinsic experiences. In the past few years, Oana’s work centred around the study of the representation of women in arts and society and the criticism of upholding rape myths, domestic violence and other forms of abuse against women and young girls. Instagram: @oana.maria.pop Website: https://oanamariapop.wixsite.com/oanamariapop
