“SILENCED WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE AGES” OLGA ESTHER
NOVEMBER 11-DECEMBER 1, 2023
Modern Eden Gallery is thrilled to announce the inaugural solo exhibition at the gallery featuring the works of Spanish painter Olga Esther. In her latest series of portraits, Esther brings to light the often-overlooked stories of silenced women from the medieval era.
“My exhibition, “Silenced Women in the Middle Ages: Portraits of Resilience,” is a showcase of extraordinary women from the Middle Ages, whose lives are scarcely studied in history books but were writers, musicians, mystics, or scientists.The exhibition, inspired by Sandra Ferrer’s book of the same title, aims to bring their forgotten stories to light.
The fascinating portraits of Hildegarda de Bingen, a versatile scholar, or Christine de Pizan, considered the author of the first feminist book in history. But there is also room for lesser-known women, demonstrating that there were many, many more who defied the norms of a society designed by and for men.
It is interesting to note that in a time when Christianity was beginning to institutionalize and impose its misogynistic and submissive ideas, many of the prominent figures in the medieval era were religious and mystical. This is not surprising since in monasteries, at least for a time, women enjoyed a degree of freedom separate from men.
This is an exhibition that celebrates the courage and legacy of these women who challenged the expectations of their time. Let us together get to know these medieval sages in Silenced Women in the Middle Ages: Portraits of Resilience.”
Olga Esther, a Spanish painter and illustrator, stands as a graduate of fine arts from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Her artistic journey includes the distinction of receiving two art scholarships in both Prague and Mexico. Additionally, she holds a master's degree in video games. Currently residing and creating in Valencia, Olga Esther's unique artistic vision comes to life in her portrayals of princesses who reject their conventional roles, birds shedding tears of blood, and toads driven to self-destruction due to neglect.
Through her distinctive use of princess symbolism, Esther delves into themes of gender and feminism. Her canvases become a medium to paint the stories of the invisible ones—the little-forgotten girls and those often unnoticed in the world. Above all, her work sheds light on the individuals who, despite being seemingly nobody, find themselves without anyone. Olga Esther's art transcends traditional narratives, offering a poignant reflection on the overlooked and marginalized voices in our society.