In modern China, women are independent in almost every area in society. However, in the so called “cultural circle,” with males at the core, female artists find it hard to express their true feelings and their works often get marginalized next to their flashier and more famous male counterparts.
The commercialization of contemporary art is changing the status of female artists. Many of them fear being ghettoized, or categorized with other women, simply because of their gender. Creative women feel exploited for their female identities, although they want their works to be judged on their merits.
Women need to have a voice and often struggle to be heard, but art is one in way in which women can speak loudly.
Here are some words from Chinese female artists:
Cui Youwen: Works are the only way to make female artists alive.
We see the world from different angles, and physical character is one of them. In my sense, works can speak for me. People know and understand me by my works, and then they invite me to attend exhibitions in or abroad China. Mostly they did not have an understanding of my gender before first connection. Works are the only way to bring your ideas to life.
In terms of the relationship between art and market, the second should follow, modulate or even be transformed with the former. Some people pay for the artistic value, but some pay just for commercial value. The results are totally different.
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