Feminism’s pursuit of equal rights for women in a patriarchal society has become a major topic in modern times, receiving varying degrees of attention in politics, economics, culture, and the arts. At its core, feminism is a response to and struggle against the patriarchal structures that have developed over history—systems that inherently reflect the law of the jungle. This resistance not only moves women and men toward equality but also advances human civilization.

To discuss the relationship between men’s and women’s rights, one must first examine history with a critical eye. In early societies where material resources were scarce and survival was a constant struggle, the human drive to stay alive often outweighed concerns of equality and rights. Due to their natural physiological strength, men were able to secure more resources, while women, in a state of dependence, relied on men for survival. Over time, this dependency led to the establishment of a patriarchal structure in which men held dominant control. As this power expanded over generations, it was reinforced through civilization, institutions, culture, and morality—concepts that often served as decorative justifications for systemic male dominance. Many inhumane, barbaric, and cruel practices that catered to men’s greed and control were formalized into laws and societal norms, forcing women into submission. This contradiction—where civilization both promotes and protects oppression—became a defining paradox.

Under this patriarchal framework, the treatment of women often reflected the darker aspects of human nature. The excessive expansion of male power left little space for women’s rights, leading to various forms of inequality and suffering for women in male-dominated societies. The law of the jungle—where the strong prey on the weak—came at great cost to women. Over time, this patriarchal structure became deeply ingrained in cultural traditions and societal expectations, rendering gender inequality a widely accepted, unquestioned norm.

With societal progress, humanity no longer relies solely on physical strength for survival. Instead, intelligence and collaborative labor between men and women have become the key to creating and accumulating resources. As men gradually lost their advantage in raw strength, the inequalities of patriarchy became more apparent. In this context, women—who make up half of the human population—began seeking recognition of their intrinsic value, including dignity and wealth, and asserting their right to exist as equals. This naturally led to confrontations with patriarchal systems, as women worked to reclaim the rights that had long been usurped by male dominance. Each achievement in the feminist struggle is a step toward a more equitable society, a means of reducing the cruelty and inhumanity embedded in patriarchal traditions, and a process of restoring men to a more civilized existence. Feminism, therefore, is not just a gendered movement—it is a call for progress and a reflection of humanity’s advancement toward modern civilization.

At its core, the feminist struggle is a battle of the sexes, but it is supported by human conscience and the natural sense of justice. The weapons of feminism are the shared values of civilization that humanity has established over centuries. To reclaim their rights from the male-dominated world, women have adopted various strategies—while some conflicts have turned physical in extreme cases, the vast majority of feminist activism takes place through political, economic, cultural, and educational means. Art, in particular, has served as an important tool for feminist expression.

From March 13 to April 1, 2023, artists Chen Mo and Xiao Lu, held a dual exhibition titled The Age of Liberation on the third floor of the Zhou B Art Center to commemorate Women’s History Month. Using painting and video installation the two female artists presented their observations, experiences, and demands regarding contemporary life, all from a distinctly female perspective.

The works of Chen Mo use the language of abstract art to express a female artist's attitude toward life, environment, and existence. The overall tone of her paintings is composed of brightness, transparency, cleanliness, and secrecy. She narrates the artistic world she sees and imagines in the first person, using lines, colors, and shapes that define her unique style. Her work opens up a window into a healthy, rational, and contemplative inner world, revealing a gentle yet profound aesthetic appreciation. She conveys the subtle emotions unique to female artists with clarity and elegance.

The piece Maze (Figure 1) integrates the artist's rich inner world and various emotions, presenting a slightly heavy image. Some vaguely familiar yet ambiguous shapes and figures intertwine and overlap, harmonizing cool and warm tones. Colors of different depths spread across a distant, deep background, hinting at the unknowability and complexity of the world. The work exudes an implicit psychological suggestion of human bewilderment, helplessness, and fear. However, in the lower part of the painting, a striking red line, drawn using perspective principles, extends deep into the composition in an S-shape. This marks the artist’s courageous, passionate, and continuously exploring journey, affirming her rational self-awareness. The entire image is rich in mystery; though the elements are intricate, they maintain an orderly balance between complexity and simplicity. The interplay of brushstrokes and colors subtly conveys the precision of a woman's inner world.

The artwork Map to the Rainbow (Figure 2) conveys a sense of joy, delight, and feminine elegance. The fluid, curving shapes and the elegant cool gray tones contrast gently with warm hues, producing a harmony reminiscent of light music. It evokes the image of an artist strolling through a sunlit street, a gentle breeze brushing past, fully immersed in the boundless charm of nature and life. This work expresses the exhilaration of experiencing beauty and poetic emotions. However, a small but striking red section at the top reminds the artist to remain serious and face reality. In the middle left of the painting, warm-toned blocks divided by fine dark lines create irregular shapes, symbolizing a rational restraint over emotional indulgence. These shapes may appear casually formed, but they are meticulously outlined, inadvertently revealing the artist's scientific background and rigorous thinking habits.

The conceptual and emotional range between Maze and Map to the Rainbow is vast, indicating the extensive creative possibilities available to the artist.

Despite the lingering effects of patriarchal society that continue to impact women in the real world, Chen Mo's works reflect a modern woman's healthy psychological state. Her art suggests that she has, at the very least, transcended gender barriers in terms of cognition and perception. She faces the world as a woman and as a person, freely expressing the innate qualities of femininity in her artistic creation. Feminism is not about altering or erasing gender identity, nor is it about usurping or replacing men to prove equality. Femininity and masculinity are two of the greatest aesthetic gifts granted to humanity.

As an artist, Chen Mo approaches art creation from the perspective of a modern woman, considering the present and future of human art while continuously elevating her work. Her pieces not only embody feminine sensitivity and refinement but also reflect profound artistic inquiry and cultural significance. Her art conveys the influence of her native language and culture, as she strives to trace the cultural roots of her artistic expression. The structural composition and language of traditional Chinese landscape painting often serve as key elements in her work. In her 2013 piece Penglai (Figure 3), the bold and calligraphic lines play a structural role, linking and dialoguing with modern abstract oil painting. This approach integrates modern forms with traditional Eastern narrative styles and aesthetics, evoking a profound cultural heritage and expanding the depth and imaginative space of her work.

Her 2015 painting Worldly Dust (Figure 4) adopts a modern perspective while fully absorbing the spatial and temporal relationships found in traditional Chinese landscape painting. With expressive forms and vibrant colors, the piece interprets the contemporary human spirit. The heavy brushstrokes, combined with the artist’s highly sensitive emotions, manipulate every shape and color block, revealing her personal interpretation of life and art. Chen Mo uses landscape painting as a medium, offering a modern reinterpretation of her cultural heritage. This approach enriches her work with greater breadth and depth while anchoring it in a distinct cultural identity, contributing to its unique artistic value—an essential pursuit in contemporary art.

Chen Mo's work has moved beyond a feminist perspective that examines the world solely through the lens of gender. Instead, she approaches art as a modern human being, expressing contemporary spiritual concerns within her own artistic framework. Her work no longer dwells on trivial and private female desires, nor is it limited to certain aspects of feminism. Rather, it elevates to the level of a modern woman, examining and representing the world from the perspective of a contemporary artist. Her artistic vision and achievements affirm the hard-fought progress of feminism while also heralding an era of true liberation.

2023.3.13

Lin Yipeng 林逸鹏

Full Professor

School of Fine Arts at Nanjing Normal University, Jiangsu Province, China

Executive Vice President

Xu Beihong 徐悲鸿 Art Research Institute

https://hea.china.com/article/20230329/032023_1248075.html