Throughout history, from explicit depiction of nudes under the male gaze to abstract paintings by female artists that are overwhelmingly misinterpreted, the myth of femininity has fallen into a black hole of controversies, ambiguity and mystery.
Nina Klein does not shy away from this black hole; instead, she embraces the convoluted notion of gender representation and translates dilemmas into paintings. While anatomizing female bodies and experiences in a highly abstract and codified fashion, Klein dispels the often-sexualized representation of womanhood with visual clarity and minimalized color palette. By creating enigmas, Klein tackles the long-time myth of sex and gender. And during this process, femininity is not all what Klein sees. Her most recent works, also included in this exhibition, continue her intimate visual language and yet are underpinned by a universal kind of unease and longing shared by all of us during this global pandemic.
The show is brought to you by Uncommon Beauty Gallery and Space 776, curated by Mengna Da, on view from January 15 to February 3, 2021 at 37-39 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002. More info: https://www.space776.com/nina-klein
da mengna 