The model, the photographer, and the painter all in one – Ana Bathe creates weirdly sexual worlds you have never seen before.
We sat down with multi-disciplinary artist Ana Bathe.
And talked about feminism, gender roles, and censorship.
How would you define your art style?
Post contemporary alchemist.
What exactly is a post-contemporary alchemist?
I was trying to find a description of my practice and post contemporary alchemist seemed to fit the most.
I like the poetic cling since most of my work comes from playing with various materials, pouring different elements together, and mixing mediums to create imaginary worlds.
I’m also a very ritualistic person and I rely primarily on my senses and intuition.
What roles do gender and sexuality play in your artworks?
They still play a vital role.
In the beginning, I put a lot of conscious emphasis on blurring those lines, whereas nowadays these topics are gently interwoven into my works on a subconscious level.
I have a certain proclivity for reaching for something unexplored, yet strangely familiar in my work.
Someone once told me they view my work as ‘creepy, weird sexuality’. I’m ok with that!
“Ana Bathe is a feminist!”
Ana, what does feminism mean to you, especially while living in a city like Berlin, where the people are considered free.
I am currently Berlin-based, yes, and as free as Berlin is, there are still injustices visible, from traces to full-blown.
Growing up in the Balkans during the ’90s, I think my feminist foundation stems from having observed gender norms of that era.
I could never identify with a pre-constructed expectation of what my life should be like, marriage, sexual orientation, family values, gender norms, reproduction, etc.
I’ve always wanted to and still want to be free and have fun.
I have a very playful approach to life and my work.
And I realize it’s challenging to be fully playful and have fun in a society that still has a lot of prejudices.
As representatives of artists, here at BERLINABLE, we know what censorship is.
Can you explain to someone who is not in the art world how censorship works?
Mmm, I think due to social media’s weird and enforced ‘community standards’ more and more people are seeing the effects of censorship and starting to familiarize themselves with it.
I’m not sure how to explain it, I find it completely absurd.
Removing posts, banning users, and deleting accounts, due to certain body parts being visible.
I find it wildly outdated and dangerous, as it implies that all nudity is sexual.
Not only are the effects of censorship insidious, but its use is often indicative of authoritarian regimes.
How will censorship affect our society?
Probably in various ways.
Some artists and activists will continue to protest against it, self-publish, seek other platforms, and create new underground portals and safe spaces while others will conform to the new yet outdated norms.
Time will tell.
In a world where every other person looks the same, you stick out.
Why do you, as Ana Bathe the artist and as a regular human, think diversity is important?
Gaaah thanks!
Diversity is crucial, it shapes us, inspires us, drives us, offers different points of view.
It helps us grow and evolve.
Embracing your own authenticity also paves the way for diversity.
I can’t picture myself consulting a rule book on how to dress or what art to make and to still be happy.
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