The historical women whose faces and names are portrayed in this project were thinkers and doers who changed the way we see the world. They often lived unusual lives and came up with novel concepts or ideas that expanded the scope of human understanding. Yet their names and brilliant works are often underrepresented or, worse, unknown. Their names should pop up more readily. I want to live in a world in which the ideas of women contribute to our worldview, especially now I have a daughter. This project is my contribution to even the balance.
“When women kick ass, history rarely bothers to write it down.”
Deborah Francis White, The Guilty Feminist
One of my inspirations for this project is Christine de Pizan, a medieval author who wrote a book in which she ‘built’ a ‘City of Ladies’ in response to a misogynistic novel. The stories of historical or mythical women were her building blocks to create a structure for and by women.
Another work that inspired me is The Dinner Party by the artist Judy Chicago. She created an elaborate table arrangement for historical women, with each guest getting their story told with the table setting. The Dutch artist Patricia Kaersenhout updated this artwork to make it more diverse with her work Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner Too.
“Making is a Form of investigating”
Okwui Enwezor, curator
This series investigates perspectives and stories through the tactility of lino portraits. My way of connecting to these women and their legacies is to carve out their likenesses in linoleum. It helps me to give them a face while I research their life and work.
To use the words written by one of my contemporary heroes, Sandi Togsvig, in her 2021 ‘Togsvig’s Almanac: “it’s also worth a note of caution that all the women in here are extraordinary but that doesn’t mean they are all nice.” This is also very much the case here: women do not always have to be pleasant, extraordinary or “kick-ass” to be noteworthy. It’s their ideas that I care about.
Full disclosure: I am no expert. This is simply a labour of love in a bid to share these women’s ideas. This project is a starting point – a reference starter pack.
ABOUT ME
My name is Carine and I live in the Dutch city of Haarlem, carving these lino portraits on my dinner table. I studied art and anthropology and currently work in the cultural sector. Brain & Guts is the result of my love of crafting and researching. It combines two of my favourite things: gathering stories and working with my hands.
Brain & Guts 