FOR OUR 'THROUGH HER EYES' SERIES - MANON SHARED HER VIEWPOINT ON BEING A FEMALE ARTIST
1. What does it mean to be a female artist?
I am proud to be both a woman and an artist. Our ability to delve into our emotions often allows us to explore depths of creativity and introspection. The intersection of our memories and our bodies provides a unique foundation for self-expression and artistic creation. Being a woman shapes my approach to art, and my work often reflects states of confusion and uncertainty that are intrinsic to our experience. I explore complex dimensions of existence, where the image we project and our perceptions are constantly unsettled, creating an atmosphere of ambiguity and confusion. This exploration of feminine complexity—between chaos and calm—is at the heart of my practice.
2. How would you define the female gaze?
I would define the female gaze as an exploration of the emotional and experiential depth of women. Rather than focusing solely on physical appearance or sexuality, it delves into the inner world of women, capturing the richness of their emotions and experiences. The gaze on the female body is freed from objectification: it is represented authentically, without sexualization, with an emphasis on lived experience and emotional truth. In my work, I use the image of my own naked body as it is, without attempting to change it. The body becomes a witness to a reality in constant flux, reflecting moments of chaos and confusion, sometimes mixed with a search for calm amidst this turbulence. The female body becomes a place of uncertainty, a space where one is continually redefined.
3. How has your identity as a female artist influenced your artistic practice?
My identity as a female artist profoundly influences my artistic practice, as it is central to my expression. When I look within myself, I see my experience as a woman—my emotions, my traumas, my joys, and the confusion that often accompanies this existence. This inner exploration allows me to create narratives rooted in the complexity of the female condition. My work addresses the confusion between states of peace and chaos, illusion and reality. It is through this ambiguity that I express my personal story, exploring universal themes of transformation, self-perception, and survival in an increasingly blurred and uncertain world.
4. If you could lend your eyes to the viewer, what would you want them to see?
I would like them to see the beauty in moments of confusion as much as in soft and joyful moments. For me, it is these moments of oscillation between light and darkness that generate a rich and stimulating creative experience. Life is made of contrasts, and through my work, I aim to show how confusion and calm can coexist and nourish each other. I explore instability and the search for clarity in a world that often feels out of control. This struggle against uncertainty and the search for a form of inner peace in a chaotic landscape is one of the central themes in my work.
5. How does your work reflect personal or collective female experiences?
My work can sometimes seem difficult to follow, as it reflects the fluidity and confusion of my inner world. I function a bit like the changing rhythms of my hormones—one day I feel sadness, and the next, I find myself in awe of life's beauty. This alternation creates a certain confusion in my work, as it reflects the unpredictability of my own feminine cycle. My art metaphorizes emotions and states of being, producing varied atmospheres that capture moments of uncertainty, sometimes chaotic, sometimes more serene. Through the image of my blue, naked body, I try to express this inner confusion, a state where one oscillates constantly between contradictory perceptions of oneself, femininity, and the world around us.
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