Movement. Space. Paint. Lights. Sound. These are the only things needed for Alexandra Cassirer and Ines Valentinitsch to challenge the very fabric of society.
Ines and Alexandra use this Open House Talk, moderated by Georgia Holmer, as an opportunity to promote their diverse backgrounds. During the panel, their stories are brought to light about surviving criminal violence and torture, growing up within the deaf-mute community, and reclaiming the right to be an artist. In reclaiming the dynamic between the model and the painter, the artists hope to push against societal boundaries and to revolutionise the meaning of the female nude. The artists stated that they will not only use this space to perform, but they intend to become the space. A space where women feel safe to be vulnerable and express themselves. The panelists call for more of these safe places, much like this Open House talk, where women can reclaim the true meaning of freedom and equality.
When an audience member mentioned that they thought this performance would spark controversy, Ines and Alexandra replied saying that this was exactly why they were doing this.
The phenomenal live performance took place later in the week on November 10th at the Atelierhaus der Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien.
Ines Valentinitsch is an Austrian artist who lives and works in Munich and Milan. She incorporates sensitive yet minimal and powerful paintings into mixed-media installations that involve live art and performance. The artist directs the viewer’s focus to the positive potential and soft power of exposed vulnerability. They have exhibitions in Munich, Milan, Turin, Kitzbühel, St. Moritz, Graz.
Alexandra Cassirer is an artist of Jewish origin born in Moldova, based in Milan. Alexandra works with memory and fluidity of the female nature that is split between carnal joy and sensual vulnerability. Alexandra’s urge to melt inner statements into body language traces back to the first decade of her life spent with her grandparents in the deaf-mute community. The prevalence of meta-morphosis over the static form is transmitted through video and photography artworks as well as live performances.
Anna Shpilko Ravagli is a curator and activist whose work is focused on performance art, based in Paris.
Georgia Holmer is a peacebuilder, writer, and artist based in Vienna.
