The girl with the vaginal smearing

[TrenterPercenter]

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/oct/06/anicka-yi-tate-modern-turbine-hall-commission-smell-vaginas?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

What if, Yi wondered in 2015, instead of satisfying the lubricious male gaze through pictures and sculptures of naked women, art explored what she called the "patriarchal fear" of the smell of women. To that end, she asked 100 female friends and colleagues for swab samples. Some swabbed their mouths, others their vaginas. Yi used these samples to grow bacteria in petri dishes, then analysed scent molecules from the collected bacteria, translated the data into a formula and produced a chemical – rather in the way commercial fragrances are made.

[bgmnts]

"I can only eat grass-fed meat, wild fish, unseasoned all of it, vegetables and a little fruit."

Jesus christ.

[Cerys]

And so the sudden inclusion of the phrase 'Jane Eyre's pap smear' in a dream I had a few days ago takes on another level.

[jonbob]

So it's the posh version of that candle that smells of Gwyneth Paltrows' minge?

[Chollis]

stieg larsson dropped by publisher

[Retinend]

I "love" the radical posturing of contemporary art manifestos:

Yi's work is often olfactory, honouring the sense she thinks humans have neglected in favour of the optical. "I've always maintained that when you're on death row," she once said, "you should get last scents or last sounds, the same way you get last meals."

"humans have neglected the olfactory in favour of the optical" means the same as "have neglected smells in favour of sight", but that wouldn't sound clever / mysterious enough

[TrenterPercenter]

"Tracey Eminge, John Cunstable, Vincent Vag Gogh, Michelvangelo, Francine's Bacon, your boys took one hell of a beating!"

[Buelligan]

Maybe we should consider whether laughing about artists' lifestyles or naughty words is the main thing here.  In this world, that we live in, right now.

[TrenterPercenter]

Maybe we should consider whether laughing about artists' lifestyles or naughty words is the main thing here.

And that main thing is.......?

[Buelligan]

Misogyny?

[gilbertharding]

I wonder where she got the idea that the patriarchy is frightened of the smell of women's genitals. I mean, she might be right...

[TrenterPercenter]

Misogyny?

You think the artist is engaging in misogyny? Or the Guardian? Or (let me guess) me for pointing out this funny story?

If it was a man who got his mates to swap their penises and then made an exhibition about the smell of penises whilst waxing lyrical about societies fear of the olfactory beauty of penis stink, would you not giggle, just a little, you know just for fun to laugh at the banal world we sometimes inhabit? Think about it.

I think if you do think about it you might see it is just a bit of fun; but if you want to be so beigely serious, all power to the artist and her exhibition that smells of vaginas.

[Jittlebags]

Leonardo da Mingey

[JaDanketies]

I worry that the exhibition might actually encourage misogyny by encouraging people to make comments like "This room stinks of vaginas!"

One of the societal rules I thought we would never traverse was commenting about the smell of vaginas. The last artwork I heard that dealt with this issue was the song "I Can Smell Your Cunt" by Anal Whore from their album Pornorama, which was also deliberately boundary-crossing. Perhaps it is actually progressive to reappropriate the concept of smelly vaginas so it's no longer the preserve of misogynists. Maybe one day even men will be able to talk about their nob cheese in terms of masculine pride. "My dad's nob is cheesier than your dad's nob."

[Shoulders?-Stomach!]

Misogyny?

Does it fail if stated intention is to draw attention to that but those who visit and comment about it end up talking about anything but? Not saying that's happened or not, but would disagree that the method by which the artist has chose to raise the issue shouldn't be subject to criticism or mocking on account of misogyny being bad, all pull serious face now, etc.

[Buelligan]

You think the artist is engaging in misogyny? Or the Guardian? Or (let me guess) me for pointing out this funny story?

If it was a man who got his mates to swap their penises and then made an exhibition about the smell of penises whilst waxing lyrical about societies fear of the olfactory beauty of penis stink, would you not giggle, just a little, you know just for fun to laugh at the banal world we sometimes inhabit? Think about it.

I think if you do think about it you might see it is just a bit of fun; but if you want to be so beigely serious, all power to the artist and her exhibition that smells of vaginas.

I think the artist is drawing attention to misogyny in our society, obviously.  Failing to see that or subsuming it, covering over that horrible reality with a laugh is pretty normal.  It's what we do, what we're taught to do. 

The patriarchy makes sure that the status quo is maintained.  In this case, considering the oppression of women by making them embarrassed about the natural smell of their own normal bodies is obscured by a good old snigger about the scent of a woman.  All very normal, all very predictable but it's also predictable that people who object to the maintenance of the way it is will say so, isn't it?

[TrenterPercenter]

The patriarchy makes sure that the status quo is maintained.  In this case, considering the oppression of women by making them embarrassed about the natural smell of their own normal bodies is obscured by a good old snigger about the scent of a woman.  All very normal, all very predictable but it's also predictable that people who object to the maintenance of the way it is will say so, isn't it?

I do get this and I do actually have empathy for this point so take this next bit as a genuine attempt to progress a thread of thought.

Do you not think men; via marketing and culture are made to feel embarrassed by the natural smell of their natural bodies? Probably the most well known advert for deodorant is Lynx.  I don't really agree with the idea that society rejects the natural smell of women anymore than that of men (EDIT: hmmmm no I've reconsidered this I don't think this actually true society might reject the natural smell of both sexes but for a number of reasons men are better placed to manage this - yes this is patriarchal and sexist in it's roots and should be recognised as such) however I do recognise a massive industry of perfumery and fragrance sustained by female $$ are you suggesting women are doing this not because they like the perfumes or value smelling like these perfumes provide but because they are ashamed of their natural scent? 

If I imagine someone telling another person that they stink and they need to put some smellies on I imagine a women talking to a smelly man.  I guess we could infer from this that because a woman is never smelly this I actually the proof of the patriarchal grip (I'm not against this notion btw), however it is still upholding the alienation of oneselfs scent not attacking it.

I say this because I think one thing that men on generally do to try and deal with collision between their bodies and idealistic (capitalist notions of ideal bodies) is to joke and about it.  They do this as a way of eliciting control back into their being; you can't tell me I'm disgusting because I already know this, I own that criticism and I therefore can joke about it.  This is very good way to take on people that are trying manipulate and control you because it releases you from criticisms on another terms.

Finally if seriously asked me to go to an exhibition that smelt of willies or vaginas - I would go with the vaginas every time and Imagine 99.99% of men would too.

[Bronzy]

I think the artist is drawing attention to misogyny in our society, obviously.  Failing to see that or subsuming it, covering over that horrible reality with a laugh is pretty normal.  It's what we do, what we're taught to do. 

The patriarchy makes sure that the status quo is maintained.  In this case, considering the oppression of women by making them embarrassed about the natural smell of their own normal bodies is obscured by a good old snigger about the scent of a woman.  All very normal, all very predictable but it's also predictable that people who object to the maintenance of the way it is will say so, isn't it?

[dissolute ocelot]

The fact that the Guardian get their unfunny dogsbody Stuart Jeffries to write about it shows what they think of this artist. Tee hee, vaginas!

Worth noting that she hasn't actually revealed what she's doing in the Turbine Hall, so there's no guarantee it'll stink like any body part. She could make it smell like ants (what the hell does an ant smell like?) The Turbine Hall is a weird mass spectacle that I'm not sure has a lot to do with art. It's a new kind of public art, one step up from big meaningless sculptures in plazas.

Women artists have been doing stuff with their vaginas for decades (Kubota, Schneemann, etc - vagina painting, pulling things out, putting things in, etc) and you could argue it's not seriously challenged anything about society's image of women. But then what modern art has changed anything?

[Buelligan]

I do get this and I do actually have empathy for this point so take this next bit as a genuine attempt to progress a thread of thought.

Do you not think men; via marketing and culture are made to feel embarrassed by the natural smell of their natural bodies? Probably the most well known advert for deodorant is Lynx.  I don't really agree with the idea that society rejects the natural smell of women anymore than that of men; however I do recognise a massive industry of perfumery and fragrance sustained by female $$ are you suggesting women are doing this not because they like the perfumes or value smelling like these perfumes provide but because they are ashamed of their natural scent? 

If I imagine someone telling another person that they stink and they need to put some smellies on I imagine a women talking to a smelly man.  I guess we could infer from this that because a woman is never smelly this I actually the proof of the patriarchal grip (I'm not against this notion btw), however it is still upholding the alienation of oneselfs scent not attacking it.

I say this because I think one thing that men on generally do to try and deal with collision between their bodies and idealistic (capitalist notions of ideal bodies) is to joke and about it.  They do this as a way of eliciting control back into their being; you can't tell me I'm disgusting because I already know this, I own that criticism and I therefore can joke about it.  This is very good way to take on people that are trying manipulate and control you because it releases you from criticisms on another terms.

Finally if seriously asked me to go to an exhibition that smelt of willies or vaginas - I would go with the vaginas every time and Imagine 99.99% of men would too.

Yes, yes, but this isn't a thread about when Men's Day is is it?

[bgmnts]

These little art stunts are mostly just tedious as fuck grifts I suppose and dont really mean anything. I don't see how this is any more meaningful than Paltrow doing minge candles.

But people in society need something to do so let vag art lady grt on with it. Although fuck knows what she'll do when the patriarchy is gone and we accept vaginas or something. Anus art? Are anuses oppressed?

[TrenterPercenter]

Yes, yes, but this isn't a thread about when Men's Day is is it?

Oh you are just doing your trolling thing again.  Ah well, have a nice day and all.

[Buelligan]

These little art stunts are mostly just tedious as fuck grifts I suppose and dont really mean anything. I don't see how this is any more meaningful than Paltrow doing minge candles.

But people in society need something to do so let vag art lady grt on with it. Although fuck knows what she'll do when the patriarchy is gone and we accept vaginas or something. Anus art? Are anuses oppressed?

You may be right, it may just be another grift or it may be that our darling culture has trained us not to trust unauthorised messages.  IMO, the difference between this and Paltrow's candle is ego.  One is about us, the other just ME[nb]Exceptional, perfect, goddess, Gwynneth.[/nb].

[TrenterPercenter]

The fact that the Guardian get their unfunny dogsbody Stuart Jeffries to write about it shows what they think of this artist. Tee hee, vaginas!

Worth noting that she hasn't actually revealed what she's doing in the Turbine Hall, so there's no guarantee it'll stink like any body part. She could make it smell like ants (what the hell does an ant smell like?) The Turbine Hall is a weird mass spectacle that I'm not sure has a lot to do with art. It's a new kind of public art, one step up from big meaningless sculptures in plazas.

Women artists have been doing stuff with their vaginas for decades (Kubota, Schneemann, etc - vagina painting, pulling things out, putting things in, etc) and you could argue it's not seriously challenged anything about society's image of women. But then what modern art has changed anything?

Yes I think my main point was really it is just another Guardian headline that could be indistinguishable from the Guardian meme generator.  It is also telling I thought the way it says the swabs were of women's mouth....and vagina's I did think hmmm have you just exaggerated that bit so you can write this banal article.

FWIW this story was sent to me via WhatsApp by a women and the text "Titian Vagi" then a load of laughing emogis [nb]who I assume is a painter but I have to say I don't know[/nb]

[Buelligan]

FWIW this story was sent to me via WhatsApp by a women and the text "Titian Vagi" then a load of laughing emogis [nb]who I assume is a painter but I have to say I don't know[/nb]

Do you imagine women are not capable of oppressing other women?  Our society contains all of us, all of us are oppressed by the Patriarchy, some of us reject it and some of us accept it.

[chveik]

some of her sculptures look cool. the title is quite clickbaity, i can think of a shitload of artists who are way more nonsensical in interviews

[TrenterPercenter]

Do you imagine women are not capable of oppressing other women?

I'm glad you've said this Buelligan because yes I do; I've seen you do it loads of times on this very forum.


Now there was an opportunity for you to engage like a normal human being and discuss the topic beyond the "fun puns for funs sake" (because it is a comedy forum), and you've chosen to try and drive the thread right back into your silly little trolling escapades.  So I'm oot, all that will come from this is arguing and then Neil getting stressed. 

So nope, not letting you do it. Silly for me to reply in the first place.  Have a nice day.

[bgmnts]

You may be right, it may just be another grift or it may be that our darling culture has trained us not to trust unauthorised messages.  IMO, the difference between this and Paltrow's candle is ego.  One is about us, the other just ME[nb]Exceptional, perfect, goddess, Gwynneth.[/nb].

Well, if the artist did this anonymously then yeah I'd agree with you.

[Dex Sawash]

I.was a man who got his mates to swap their penises

<adds to buddies list>

[gilbertharding]

FWIW this story was sent to me via WhatsApp by a women and the text "Titian Vagi" then a load of laughing emogis [nb]who I assume is a painter but I have to say I don't know[/nb]

'Titian Bums' would be a better play on words (written down - it doesn't work when you say it aloud), but obviously doesn't work in context.