ANA BENAROYA: SUMMER-UPOM-SUMMER-LOVE

© Ana Benaroya

R+K Gallery is presenting new works by Ana Benaroya on view from June 20 - July 4, 2020 in East Hampton.

“I am very interested in power, who holds it, how it is used, how it informs every narrative, and how it can be taken back – by women in particular. From a queer perspective I explore this notion of power: I play with the human body, both male and female, often anatomically exaggerated and at its moment of most extreme action. I believe the body holds the core of human power and by playing with its form and its relationship to other bodies – I can bring attention to power imbalances that exist within our society. Using the language of comics, caricature, and pop culture, I explore and expand my understanding of the physical and emotional limits of my own body. Each body I depict is an extension of my own body – and each image allows me to feel more powerful and to physically grow. I am infuenced by images of bodybuilders, anatomy books, gig-posters, and artists such as Tom of Finland, Robert Colescott, the Chicago Imagists as well as children’s artwork. Music and song lyrics often play a role in the titles of my works.

© Ana Benaroya

My inspiration for this imagery comes from feeling powerless and often intense, overwhelming anger at what I view to be atrocities committed against women every day – both large and small. I want to create a visual world where women fnd their power: mentally, physically, sexually. My work is motivated in large part to my own emotional experience.

As seen in my portfolio, humor tempers the anger in my work. Humor is a good lubricant in communication (and in maintaining sanity). I believe in the subversive power of humor and how those who are disadvantaged can harness it to topple the powers that be. I take pleasure in making work that on first appearance might look funny and appealing to the eye – but upon closer examination reveals a darker more serious nature.

My hope is for my work to be a reflection of the world around us: exaggerated, yet truthful in revealing the unsaid reality. “

Ana Benaroya