WHERE THERE IS A WOMAN THERE IS A WAY”
03.2022
diameter: 74cm
technique: applique with raw edge, free-hand quilting and embroidery, fabric inks
I sew my works on the basis of a photo, a picture or a collage that I create for myself, led by my inspiration. This time my attention was caught by a female portrait, actually an advertising poster from the 1960s. The light, the positioning of the hands, the cobweb - all together appealed to my imagination. Although it was so perfect, acute and clear to read I felt that there was still something there underneath that obviousness.
The advertising slogan was appropriate to the reality of the post-war years - There's another woman waiting for every man - and she is too smart to have “morning mouth”.) . What is there to say - sexist and offensive. Now no one would say/write that. Which is not to say that he wouldn't have thought so. The ads are more subtle now, but doesn't the message underneath them nonetheless ring a familiar bell?
I decided to see if I could find a new meaning to what I was seeing. Could this woman, with her mouth washed out, perhaps have something more to say after all. I cast a net on the web and asked people who follow my Facebook profile to tell me their associations and help me come up with a title for the piece.
The most popular ones turned out to be: Prząśniczka - I think it has a reference to a very popular folk song, Pajęczarka - according to the dictionary, it's a woman who illegally uses a radio or TV camera, or a colloquial term for a woman who robs attics. Sort of a bit of a different time. Dusted off heavily. I think it was about something else - maybe from some fairy tale what I don't know her? I have a feeling that something from modern culture escaped me though......., Tekla - is probably a spider woman from a bedtime story about Maja the bee, and Tekla Bądarzewska - from “O God give a husband, give a husband”, Spider Woman - in the literal sense.
I liked Baba on the Web but not in a very literal sense. Rather, as a woman on the Internet charming with beautiful photos on Instagram, trying to lure us into the trap of an unreal life.
There were references to music - Harpist - associated by the way she holds her fingers and the delicacy of the figure, with her head positioned as if listening to the sound of strings. Arachne - a master weaver from Greek mythology, Sheloba - a terrifying figure with the shape of a large spider from a Tolkien novel. Let's see... - in the sense of “let's see what happens” and She weaves - in the sense that this woman is plotting something.
Someone noted that the woman's hands resemble the legs of a spider. It's not clear if she's hoeing that web there or maybe some giant spider. Although I didn't have this association before now I already see this spider every time I glance at the portrait.
Other suggestions are: Entanglement, Entangled, Deadly Trap, Love Trap, Putin Ambush, Fly Hunting, In the Web, In the Web of Feelings, In the Web of Intrigue, In the Web of Lies, Intriguer, Subtle Intrigue, Woman's Web, Spider Beauty, Woman in Pearl, Lady in Red, Madame with a web, Cobweb, Charlotte's web, An elaborate plan, Get caught, You'll be mine, Snare, Bait, Hunt, Golden beetle or fly, Tarantula, Mantis, Thinly spun, Ariadne's thread, The elaborate lady, A fleeting note, The tuning lady, The red widow, The mystery of the lady of the house. Most would work great as movie titles!
To me, the saying “Where there's the woman there's a way” came to mind. In Polish we say “Gdzie diabeł nie może tam babę pośle” which may be less subtle but probably captures the meaning. I think women often have the gift of finding their way in the sincere field of feelings and the dark forest of doubts. They delicately weave the thread of relationships, plan, manage, like a chess master anticipate a few moves ahead.