AAU graduate and artist Anya Blanka showcased her exhibition GRIEVANCES, captivating audiences with powerful messages about women’s frustrations expressed through her artwork.
Blanka’s exhibition featured four distinct elements: a multimedia installation, a painting, digital art and figurines– all exploring the mistreatment of women’s bodily expression within society and the art industry. Female features, often condemned by the public’s censored gaze, were displayed in their raw forms– sometimes distorted by cast shadows to adopt a more androgynous appearance, reflecting societal norms.
“The concept of my work for this exhibition was tied to the exploitation of women within society, and the burden of facing censorship and shame surrounding our sexuality, especially in the art industry,” Blanka said. She elaborated on the greeting piece Do You Still Love Me?, which symbolizes women’s struggles to embrace their identity in a male-dominated world.
A provocative piece titled With These Parts, which incorporated AI, stood out among other works. It depicted the female perspective of autonomy through the deliberate concept of “I versus Them.” This installation, alongside My Pleasure Ponies Series, might unsettle visitors with its sexually explicit content— a deliberate choice by the artist to spark conversation.
“I chose to include sexual imagery and objects as a way to challenge the viewers’ perception of a woman’s sexuality, and encourage them to put aside their prejudices and engage with these sensitive topics,” said Blanka.
When asked about her approach to themes in her work, Blanka admitted she would rather follow her heart than conform and be unauthentic.
“I was interested in how an artificial machine would perceive an issue so human and complex, as this machine can only mimic human grief, but would never have the real world experience of facing the complexities of discrimination, expectations, and shame surrounding being born with female anatomy,” Anya said.
Stay updated with Anya Blanka’s work by following her on Instagram at @annushka_blanka and exploring her portfolio at @anya_blanka!
