Sanja Iveković, Instrukcije br 1, 1976
Sanja Iveković
Instrukcije br 1

Already in the 1970s Sanja Iveković (*1949, Croatia) dealt explicitly with feminist and political themes in her photographs, videos, collages, performances and public art. She explores the image of women in communist society, especially in former Yugoslavia. She uses her body and her own personal photographs to question constructions of femininity and identity in commercial advertising, magazines and film and exposes the ways in which mass-mediated imagery and normative codes of behaviour influence our everyday lives.

In the performance Instrukcije br 1 (Instructions No. 1), Sanja Iveković draws ‘instructional’ lines for a facial and neck massage on her skin using ink. The massage meant to beautify her face and neck is negated and reduced to ugly smudges on her skin.

Courtesy Sanja Iveković

Document media
Video, b&w, silent, 6:00 min

Issue date
1976

Tags
beauty, inscription, normativity, skin