Dissident Practices: Brazilian Women Artists, 1960s-2020s

Claudia Calirman's book "Dissident Practices" explores 60 years of visual art by Brazilian women artists, highlighting their responses to authoritarianism, trauma, social gender norms, and state violence, creating political agency in a society where women remain targets of brutality and discrimination.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her groundbreaking book "Dissident Practices," Claudia Calirman delves into a comprehensive examination of sixty years of visual art created by prominent and emerging Brazilian women artists, spanning from the tumultuous era of the military dictatorship to the jubilant return to democracy in the mid-1980s, the transformative social shifts of the 2000s, the rise of the Right in the late-2010s, and the recent emergence of an overtly feminist art practice. Despite their undeniable contributions to Brazilian art, these artists faced numerous challenges and barriers due to their gender. While some of them may have distanced themselves from the term "feminism" during the 1960s and 1970s, Calirman offers a nuanced and insightful account of how they responded to authoritarianism, grappled with the trauma of the military dictatorship, challenged societal gender norms, and fought against the objectification of women. Through their artistic endeavors, these artists not only challenged social inequalities, power structures, and state violence but also empowered themselves and other women to become agents of change in a society that continues to perpetrate brutality and discrimination against them.

Calirman's book is a testament to the resilience and creativity of these artists, who have used their art to speak truth to power and challenge the status quo. Their works serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the importance of amplifying the voices of women artists in the global art scene. By exploring the rich and diverse body of work created by these Brazilian women artists, "Dissident Practices" provides a valuable contribution to the field of art history and offers a glimpse into the ongoing fight for social justice and equality.

Weight: 445g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478019404