So, what are the elements of a Patriarchal society? Men in charge obviously, yet it is the insidious influence of Patriarchy on women, that the women themselves unquestionably follow, that concerns me.
Women used to be very powerful. Life flowed through them – as it still does, and they were revered for it. It didn’t matter who the father of a baby was. The Goddess of Fertility was worshiped.
Then the Roman concepte of Primogeniture ( the first born male inheriting everything) came along and women became incarcerated.
They became guarded vessels for precious sperm to engender revered all-inheriting-sons. Throw the misogyny of religion into this injustice and you have most of the reasons why women struggle to achieve and have been edited out of History.
Today in the Printroom I started exploring this. One of the iconic images in my mind is of the powerful Venus of Willendorf: the Mother Earth Fertility Goddess , bringer of life, and one of Civilisation’s first sculptures.
I have made a study of her along with emblems of the Anglican Church – the hat , the cross, the patronage of the wave. Then I transferred these images onto an open screen silkscreen monoprint. I will go back to this with another layer- perhaps a new born male baby – the first born heir …perhaps on another medium. Possibly on tissue paper so it is transparent – or tracing paper. I want layers of meaning.
Perhaps I’ll draw over it?
Perhaps I could do a series -up to 12 images , examining my thoughts and feelings.
Examining misogyny, primogeniture and the rest….
