Reclaiming the Nude

In RECLAIMING THE NUDE, sculptor Anna Schebrak and photographer Maria Noi take an in-depth look at the body, especially the female body. As artists, their aim is to create a radically new perspective on the female nude and to shape an independent and respectful view of it. For centuries, the female body has been defined, controlled, evaluated and often suppressed through a male lens. The traditional viewing habits in film and visual art, mostly implemented by men, known as ‘male gaze’, still characterise the perception and evaluation of bodies today. Anna Schebrak and Maria Noi are of the opinion that alternative perspectives are needed that result from the direct experience and perception of women*. In the works shown, the bodies depicted are allowed to simply be, relax and express themselves. The artists argue in favour of viewing the body as a value-free vehicle for the sensual experience of the environment and the joy of life. As young women, the artists contribute their personal exploration of their own gender identity. They explore the meaning of being born and socialised in a female body - in an environment that is often characterised by demands and subtle or overt hostility towards the body, but also in an environment of social change and a new self-confidence. RECLAIMING THE NUDE aims to inspire and contribute to positive body awareness, because the message of self-determination and appreciation of one's own body is universal. Maria Noi: Photographer, anthropologist, psychologist, born 1985 in Tyrol, lives and works in Vienna. Anna Schebrak: sculptor, goldsmith, draughtswoman, born 1993 in Tyrol, lives and works in St. Andrä Wördern.