Lena Valenzuela de la Hoz

Lives and works in Berlin, Germany

Artist statement

My recent body of work focuses on the visibility of women, particularly women artists and depiction of woman in the context of Art History. To reinforce this idea, I complement these portraits with historical artefacts relevant to their stories. This creates an interplay between classical portraits and still lifes, as well as supplementary statements or references to Art of the old Masters. From an art-historical perspective, I believe it is important to document women appropriately, thereby emphasising their significance within the narrative of art history. The persistent underrepresentation of women in the art world must continue to be addressed to give their work the visibility it deserves, expose existing power structures, and replace the male gaze with a female one. I initially began by portraying contemporary women artists. However, during this process, I realised that I could also depict artists and their work through for example still lifes using symbolic objects. Through repetition or references to specific statements, certain works are not only recalled, but their impact is also further reinforced. I consider my work to be a long-term project dedicated to increasing the visibility of women artists with the orientation to the practice and pieces painted by the old male Masters. Each piece tells part of a larger story, chosen by me as both observer and decision maker. Consequently, each painting provides a deeply personal entry point into this narrative, becoming...

Artwork