The 8th of Mart Group

:: CHANGING OF PLACES ::

general view

idea

participants

exhibition

diaries

conference

MEETING PLACES

Maria Vassileva

Women at the edge of feminism

Maria Vassileva

The Women's group "The 8-th of March" has existed in the cultural horizon of Bulgaria since 1997 when a few female artists got together, following their natural reaction against the exhibition "Erotica" in which only male artists were invited to take part. Little by little the organised work replaced spontaneity. Since then, 8 exhibitions, a few international projects have been realised, catalogues, brochures, CD and others have been issued.
"The 8-th of March" carries all the marks of the formation that appeared at the end of the XX century, a time when the "borders" were not much respected (particularly in a country trying to be excluded from the Shenguen list). Even the group's members are not the same, they vary according to the specific circumstances or the tolerance/intolerance inside the group. Often the personal gains ascendancy over the professional and it is interpreted not only as a sign of "femininity" but also as contemporaneity, when the common cause gives way to the individual. The motley character of "The 8-th of March" also concerns more profound parts of the nature of the group. Its face does not have regular features. In fact, it does not suit the beauty requirements that rely on symmetry. Some members view themselves as radical feminists, others do not like that "term" at all and there is a third party that does not seem eager to discuss the issue. However, the group continues its existence, motivated by the friendship, curiosity and the huge emptiness of the Bulgarian art- stage. In a typical post-style "The 8-th of March" does not have either a clearly defined platform or its own program. It rather prefers to give a reflectory reaction to the situations and go with the tide of life than attack with a sword sharpened in advance.
Although created by people in their golden age of almost 40 the group keeps on attracting for its actions very young authors. They enthusiastically take part in that chameleon union adding to its colour the point of view and the position (opposition) of their generation.
If for those people who grew up in countries with a built and developed theory and practice in that direction this type of semi-realized associations seems at least weird, we are obliged to remind that not only Bulgarian economy had to step out from the era of the UEC (Union for Economic Cooperation) and to enter the shock market therapy. In the field of science and culture for 10 years the lack of knowledge, restrictions and gaps had to be outlived. The contemporary Bulgarian art relatively quickly has overcome the shock from the change of the closed system "painting-sculpture-graphics" with the help of the boundless horizons of the new media. However, when things come to a women's group it becomes more complicated by the partial knowledge of feminist theory and practice. To all this accumulates the social situation, which still can not put up with such "deviations".

So, the kaleidoscopic character of the group "The 8-th of March" has its explanation and its excuse. According to "world standards" it pursues controversial ideals. Some are trying to protect the idea for female style in art, something that would make radical feminists shout with anger, but it is something meaningful in a situation where for a decade a standard for imitation has been the term "male painting". Others enter into the eternal black and white themes commenting on the male-female opposition (although for some female artists that opposition does not exist at all, and, according to others the oppressive part of the man is strongly manifested). Some of the authors tend to be too serious, and that is something inappropriate even for Bulgaria. Others prefer the humour and the irony, teasing themselves and the audience.
Finally, the created image reflects a number of complexes but also it is sufficiently adequate to the situation in Bulgaria. One great success is the retaining of the reflection viewing the particular circumstances and not the persecution of traditional world models. However, the group exists in constant change and its actions have always been successful even when considering the criticism they provoke.

The latest action of the group "The 8-th of March" is called "SHOP-ART. "Women at(on) the market". That is an exhibition-project, aiming not only to view a phenomenon from all sides but also to "attack" directly the active public spaces in the centre of Sofia (shops and pedestrian zones in the underpass between the Central Universal Shop and hotel Sheraton). One part of the idea concerns the interpretation through artistic means of the philosophical-social-ethical problems, connected with perception of the image of the woman as a "shopping animal" and the attitude towards her as merchandise. The other part of the idea concerns the art out of the gallery in a free competition between it and commerce.
Daniela Kostova pasted posters on which she successfully has transformed herself into a pop-folk singer: a mass product, gaining a threatening popularity in the last years. Thus, at least for a while she wants to taste popularity and the love of the people that she will never have as artist. The replaced values are the foundation of the work of Alla Georgieva "New fragrance". She has brought to the market the last model of a gas flask for self-defence, more necessary for the hand-bag than the perfume that is indispensable for it. Tania Abadjieva viewed the cosmetic products from another angle, emphasising in a poetic video-film the connection between the popular deodorant shape and the male sex organs. Boriana Dragoeva also created a dual character in her cartoon "Vibroelephant", insinuating the woman's eternal split between the childish and the perverse. Daniela Sergieva left the hangers, clothes, bags and underwear with the respective label demonstrating her taste and desires. Nadejda Oleg Liahova closed a beggar, singing and playing on accordion, behind a glass screen. Sylvia Lazarova put an enormous photograph of three gypsies holding boards with the words Faith, Hope, Love under the statue of Sofia (their biblical mother and patron of the city). Adelina Popnedeleva made the audience "consume dreams" in the shape of cakes with the images of brides and Brad Pitt.

The project "SHOP-ART". Women at(on) the market" started two months ago, when tenants of shops had to be begged and persuaded for co-operation. This process became a real part of the project offering a great variety of reactions. The extremely negative ones imposed quick changes on some works and others changed the exhibition as a whole. The positive ones made stronger the belief that the thing in process had sense. Placing their works in the underpass the female artists exposed themselves on one side, but on another were in the position of observing the potential audience. As they were observed they also observed. In a way there was an exchange of parts, and the accumulated impressions in that process will for sure give fruit for another project.