Die Damen 1991 Austria Tabak Wall Calendar
Vienna/Wien: Austria Tabak/Die Damen, presumed Publishers. Spiral Bound. Folio. Very Good. Item #022563
ca 1990. Spiral bound, 19 ½ by 20 ½ inches. 15 glossy sheets and cardboard backing. A conceptual art piece created by Die Damen and commissioned by the Austrian tobacco company, Austria Tabak. Die Damen was a feminist art collective founded in 1987 by ONA B, Evelyne Egerer, Birgit Jürgenssen, and Ingeborg Strobl. Their work consisted mostly of performances and staged pieces that highlighted gender stereotypes and roles, exaggerating their sexuality through costumes/clothing that were associated with gender stereotypes. Most of their work was based on performance or action, thus little paper artwork was produced. As the Generali Foundation website states better than we can: "Their themes were seemingly banal, but in reality subversive. Taking an ironic perspective, they exaggerated the predominant clichés pertaining to gender roles. […] Body language and gestures as well as the design and styling of outfits and accessories were the important forms of impression in these actions. DIE DAMEN usually performed wearing identical costumes. They always emphasized their feminine sexuality by using various clichés, such as classic business dress or kitchen aprons, thus presenting a socially critical view of the passive roles traditionally apportioned to women. [...] DIE DAMEN also addressed everyday domestic scenes at home and the tough reality of down-trodden housewives. With their staged parodies and caustic humor, they reflected back the male gaze, and also supremely demonstrated the "cool" distance typical of the 1980s." This calendar was commissioned by Austria Tabak, creating a subversive look at advertising and women depicted in advertising. Rather than portray glamourous scenes of smoking and cigarettes, DIE DAMEN subtly displayed evidence of smoking or cigarettes among scenes of housework and everyday activities. VERY GOOD condition. Minor bumping and curling at the corners.
Price: $500.00