AURORA REINHARD - THE BORN IDENTITY
AURORA REINHARD - THE BORN IDENTITY
Aurora Reinhard’s work is a deep-dive exploration about gender identity, gender boundaries and gender elasticity. Often challenging, constantly eye-catching, and consistently thought-worthy, her work is a clear testament as to why art can bring society forward by encouraging conversation about pressing social issues, and finding beauty in their complexity.
IN YOUR OPINION, SHOULD GENDER BE AN INHERENT PART OF ONE’S IDENTITY?
Mostly it. I just wish everyone would be treated with respect and in an equal manner.
SOME DATING APPS NOW HAVE MORE THAN 30 OPTIONS FOR GENDER. DO YOU CONSIDER THIS A GOOD THING, OR MORE LABELS TO RUN AWAY FROM?
I haven’t encountered something like that in my dating history. To me that sounds a bit complicated, with 30 different gender options, but if there are enough people in the world that find those important then it makes sense. I just wish everyone would have the possibility to be accepted as they are….
YOU’VE ONCE STATED THAT WOMEN TRANSFORM THEIR IMAGE IN ORDER TO BE MORE SEXUALLY APPEALING. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
In general, in the mainstream heterosexual bubble, attractiveness of the female is and has been a very crucial aspect and asset (the agrarian society has/ had slightly different values) But there are many different “bubbles”.
WOMEN’S SEXUALITY, AND THE WAY IT SHOULD BE PORTRAYED, SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE UP FOR DEBATE AS SOCIETY EVOLVES WITH THE TIMES. IN YOUR OPINION, IS THERE A CORRECT WAY TO PORTRAY WOMEN’S SEXUALITY?
I don’t think there’s any one way to portray anybody’s sexuality.
I don’t think there’s any one way to portray anybody’s sexuality.
WHO WERE THE ARTISTS THAT INSPIRED YOU THE MOST WHEN DEVELOPING YOUR OVERALL AESTHETIC?
I don´t know if there is any certain artist that has inspired my overall aesthetic, but there are a lot of influences along the way. I always liked color and surrealism. In the beginning I was very excited about the aesthetics of those old blockbuster Hollywood musicals, like Gone with the Wind, Singing in the Rain etc. I also liked movies by John Cassavetes. As for photographers, I’ve been watching a lot of old photographs by Erwin Blumenfeld, Angus Mcbean, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, Robert Mapplethorpe, Pierre & Gilles, Cindy Sherman, E. J. Bellocq, and I also found Magritte, Teemu Mäki and Marlen Dumas inspiring. Sarah Lucas and Tracey Emin’s early work was very inspiring as well. Later I became a fan of Gillian Wearing. Concerning object designers, I was inspired by Tom Friedman and Jiri Geller. And overall, Encyclopedias of men’s’ magazines from the 20s to 80s, Pin-up art, fashion, Renaissance paintings, particularly portraits and still-life are always an inspiration to me.
YOUR WORK SEEMS TO STIR SOME GUTTURAL EMOTIONS OUT OF PEOPLE. HOW COME?
Ever since I saw the videos by Finnish artist Teemu Mäki, I knew I wanted to make art that makes you feel strongly, but it’s very important for me that my work speaks to a very wide audience and not just the very well educated. I try to make art that creates an emotion rather than a rational sentence, and- am particularly keen on speaking gender boundaries through my work.
HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTED GENDER ROLES IN OUR SOCIETY?
I guess it has definitely widened the knowledge of people and created a lot more understanding too.
IN YOUR OPINION, HAS THE ARTISTIC PROCESS CHANGED DUE TO THE SUDDEN RISE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY?
The Artistic process is always evolving with the help of new technology, (think about the discovery of printing and photography). Some artists use it more concretely and for some the influence is subtler, but technology influences us either in a technical or in an aesthetic way, even if we don’t want it.
YOU’RE A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY VISUAL ARTIST. WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS WHEN DECIDING WHICH ART FORM YOU WILL USE FOR EACH PROJECT?
According to the idea I just know in which media it will work. Sometimes, especially at an earlier stage, I might initially work on an idea on one medium but later figure out that it would work better on another one. For example, I first made a video with Dior for a handbag, but later created a sculpture of the bag. They were two entirely different pieces but combined, they opened up my thinking around the topic of the handbag fetish from different angles, which brought more nuance to the overall work.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ART FORM?
I think photos and sculptures seem to be my favorite art forms, at least at the moment. It can off coarse change with time.
HAS SOCIAL MEDIA HAD AN IMPACT ON YOUR SUCCESS?
I can’t really tell yet. Time will give an answer to this.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO MAKE A LIVING AS A VISUAL ARTIST NOWADAYS?
I think it is challenging for any freelancer or entrepreneur, but with dedication, inspiration, determination, and believing in your own ideas, it’s possible to survive.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR AURORA REINHARD?
I’m working on a bigger show for next year. I can’t’ speak more about it yet but in general I try to become better and show the more sensitive side of me. It’s important to keep being excited and inspired.
Interviewed by Ralph Arida