Exaggerations of History
Rediscovering Forgotten Women of Art History
"Exaggerations of History" is a groundbreaking art project by Apia, celebrating 101 remarkable women artists from the 12th to the 20th centuries. Through meticulously painted miniatures, without the use of magnification, and enhanced with Augmented Reality (AR), Apia brings these overlooked figures back into the spotlight. In this exhibit the viewer in invited to explore their lives, their art, and the history they shaped but were often excluded from.
Vision &
Inspiration
One of the primary goals of this series is to highlight the significant role women have played in the arts from the very beginning. Apia views the omission of women from art history as a profound distortion—a true "exaggeration"—which inspired the series' name. The selected artists were influential during their time but have been largely absent from academic texts, thus depriving future generations of a complete historical narrative. This gap has led to the mistaken belief that women’s contributions to the arts are a recent phenomenon.
Apia made deliberate choices in her artistic process to highlight this exaggerated minimalization of female contribution-no external magnifying tools were used to produce these detailed works despite them being under an inch. They are hung under most viewers’ line of sight to encourage close inspection and physical movement akin to a gesture of reverence, as a posthumous tribute to these remarkable women.
The artist who inspired this series is Sofonisba Anguissola (born 1532, Italy). For Apia, discovering Anguissola was comparable to opening a secret door, which uncovered the fascinating stories of incredible women from the past. These women lived with a sense of modernity, reminding us that learning about history can make us feel more connected to our own reality.
Research & Creation
The research for this project spanned over a year of Apia's life, resulting in a vast trove of information that she meticulously edited. Her goal was to create digestible capsules of information to convey each artist's story concisely yet capture the viewer's attention. Each story that Apia discovered transformed the project into a fascinating opportunity to understand the lives of past generations. She was so captivated by the depth of these narratives that it became quite difficult to stay on the surface! Distilling the information into 30-45 second micro-biographies for the AR experience was complex, but Apia committed herself to focus on the most relevant points, aiming to spark viewers' curiosity. Despite the difficulty of deciding which aspects of each artist's life were essential, she embarked on the task and successfully created these micro-biographies, which were then adapted into scripts for the AR experience.
To test her assumption that most of the women featured in the exhibition were largely unknown, Apia conducted a survey among subjects (male and female) outside of the art community. Many could not name a single female artist; those who did commonly cited Frida Kahlo, a result that was unsurprising but revealing. Even more surprising was a similar survey among male art professionals—painters, architects, sculptors—who consistently mentioned Frida as the only common reference. Occasionally, other names were mentioned, but there was no consensus, highlighting the unique recognition that Frida has.
FAQ
Why Miniatures?
The choice to work in miniatures pays homage to a genre historically dominated by women.
Why So Small?
The tiny size, smaller than traditional miniatures, was intentionally chosen to add a physical component for viewers. To fully appreciate the works, viewers must approach and lean in, effectively offering a gesture of reverence to each artist. The connection between physical movement and visual imagery enhances retention, as there must be an intention to engage before the work can be seen. From afar or in passing, it is impossible to fully appreciate the details.
Why No Magnifying Glass?
The omission of a magnifying tool was a deliberate choice to emphasize human limitations, which Apia believes contributed to historical neglect. The exclusion from textbooks reflects our own deficiencies.
Why Augmented Reality (AR)?
The AR element was crucial for the artist, embodying the concept of inclusion. With this series, Apia sought to reintroduce these female artists into contemporary discourse. It was imperative to present their lives and works in an engaging and inviting manner to a broad audience. The AR experience also requires viewers to intentionally pause and focus to access additional information, enriching the overall experience.
Why a Mix of Color and Black-and-White Portraits?
References change as we move through history. In earlier centuries, references were primarily paintings, which are in color. In more recent years, references are photographs. Given the timeline of the selected artists, most photographic references were in black and white. This results in a mix of color and black-and-white portraits, reflecting the historical context and available references for each artist.
Exhibit History
Exaggerations of History has been exhibited at prominent venues, showcasing its profound exploration of women's contributions to the arts:
Coral Springs Museum of Art (March - April 2023): The project made its debut, captivating audiences with its intricate miniatures and innovative AR experience.
Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas (March - May 2024): This exhibition expanded the reach of the series, inviting visitors to engage deeply with the untold stories of women artists.
Armory Art Center, Palm Beach (September - October 2024): The upcoming exhibition will continue to highlight the series, emphasizing the significance of historical inclusion. This exhibit marks a significant milestone as it will be the first time that "Exaggerations of History" and "Women Artists Through the Ages" (WATTA*) will be presented together, offering a comprehensive and thought-provoking experience that underscores the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of women in art history.
* The project was also adapted into an installation titled "Women Artists Through the Ages" (WATTA), with a nod to "WATTA heck happened that we don't know anything about them." This adaptation has been featured at:
Mexican Consulate (March - May 2024): The installation sparked conversations about the often-overlooked contributions of female artists in history.
Doral Cultural Art Center (March 2024): A larger installation of WATTA was presented as part of the exhibit Healing Goddess II, furthering the dialogue on women's roles in art and history.
Exhibit Gallery
Sofonisba is the artist that inspired the whole exhibit.
This is a close up to the miniature of Frida Kahlo. She was included in the show as a guest, as she has never been forgotten, but having all these amazing artists together and leaving her out was something that Apia thought it shouldn't be.
For Apia the view of her installations with the lights so dim was very telling.
Sofonisba is the artist that inspired the whole exhibit.