50 Feminist Art Manifestos

Book excerpt: This anthology contains the original manifestos of 50 women artists/feminist groups/feminist protests. Introductory essay by Katy Deepwell, with notes on each manifesto. A print edition of this book is available from KT press. What is a manifesto? A political programme, a declaration, a definitive statement of belief. Neither institutional mission statement, nor religious dogma; neither a poem, nor a book. As a form of literature, manifestos occupy a specific place in the history of public discourse as a means to communicate radical ideas. Distributed as often ephemeral documents, as leaflets or pamphlets in political campaigns or as announcements of the formation of new parties or new avant-gardes, manifestos above all declare what its authors are for and against, and ask people who read them to join them, to understand, to share these ideas. The feminist art manifestos in this anthology do all of these things as they explore the potential and possibilities of women's cultural production as visual artists. Manifestos by: Yvonne Rainer - Mierle Laderman Ukeles - Agnes Denes - Michele Wallace - Nancy Spero - Monica Sjoo and Anne Berg - Rita Mae Brown - VALIE EXPORT - Carolee Schneemann - Feminist Film and Video Organisations - Klonaris and Thomadaki - Kate Walker - Z.Budapest, U.Rosenbach, S.B.A.Coven - Ewa Partum - Women Artists of Pakistan - Chila Burman - Gisela Breitling - Riot Grrl - EVA and Co. - VNS MATRIX - Xu Hong - Violetta Liagatchev - OLD BOYS NETWORK - Lily Bea Moor - Dora Garcia - SubRosa - ORLAN - Rhani Lee Remedes - Factory of Found Clothes - Feminist Art Action Brigade - Mette Ingvartsen – ARCO - YES! Association/Föreningen JA! - Arahmaiani - Elke Krystufek - Guerrilla Girls - Julie Perini - Elizabeth M Stephens and Annie M. Sprinkle - Lucia Tkacova and Anetta Mona Chisa - Linda Mary Montano - Lenka Clayton - Silvia Ziranek - Alexandra Pirici and Raluca Voinea - Representatives of Prague Art Institutions - n i i c h e g o d e l a t - Gluklya (Natalia Pershina -Jakimanskaya) - Not Surprised - Permanent Assembly of Women Art Workers - Feminist Art and Architecture Collective - MANIFIESTO NO, NEIN, NIET !!!!!