Secret Strategies, Ideal Spaces No. 1, 1987
black and white archival print, unique edition
104.5 x 126 cm (frame)
Provenance
Mori Gallery, Sydney
Acquired from the above in 1987
Exhibited
Mori Gallery, Sydney, 1987
The artist has more recently made a slightly larger print of this work
that is an edition of 5
Secret Strategies, Ideal Spaces No. 1 is from Julie Rrap's celebrated series of performative, photographic works created in 1987 during an artist residency at the Power Cite International de Arts in Paris.
This large-scale piece offers a reinterpretation of Edouard Manet's infamous Olympia (1863) painting. Rrap's reinterpretation challenges the pervasive male gaze prevalent in the artistic canon. Her portrayal engages the viewer with an uncompromising gaze; the artist's naked body, marked with black lines, is carefully poised. Despite Rrap's nudity, the artist emanates strength and control.
Rrap's work serves as a critical commentary on shifting historical hierarchies and gender dynamics within art history. Secret Strategies, Ideal Spaces No. 1 emerged during the second wave of feminism, an era marked by questioning societal norms and re-evaluating women's roles. The image aligns with the feminist movement's core objectives, shedding light on the necessity to challenge and subvert traditional expectations in art and society.
