Wet is a series of portraits investigating contemporary ideas of feminism. Understanding feminism as a basic human right of not being limited and subjected, the fluidity of water becomes a metaphor for it. Participants in the project were asked to describe what feminism means to them. In replacing the term feminism with water, feminism’s fundamental necessity, its vital nature, its self-evidence but also its significant diversity becomes visible.
Wet is a series of portraits investigating contemporary ideas of feminism. Understanding feminism as a basic human right of not being limited and subjected, the fluidity of water becomes a metaphor for it. Participants in the project were asked to describe what feminism means to them. In replacing the term feminism with water, feminism’s fundamental necessity, its vital nature, its self-evidence but also its significant diversity becomes visible.
Dani Berg: “As water expands it puts great pressure on the walls of anything containing it, including any rocks which happen to be surrounding it. When water falls into the cracks of rocks and freezes, the force of the pressure exerted on the rock surrounding it is enough to wedge the walls of the crack further apart, thus expanding and deepening the crack.”
Gifty Lartey & Andy Calypso: “Shero (Urban Dictionary): A hero or heroine is someone who fights for human rights in general. Expanding on general ‘heroism’, a Shero is a man or woman who stands up specifically for female rights. Water is the belief in equality for all women; sheroism is the action.”
Lady Gaby: ”Water is a way of life as it occurs in every aspect of my life. As a writer, performer, as an artist, as mother and human being. I wish that one day, women would not be put inside boxes, traditions, and values would not be forced upon them, and that gender will not mark their lives any longer. I do not want to be scanned for my childbearing hips and I do not want to be a promised wife. And my eyes are not naive. I fight with my brain and think with my heart.”
Adna: “Water speaks for love and includes everyone. There are political aspects to it, but the word in itself is only basic facts; we are all the same and should therefore be treated as such.”
Lucía Martín: “I believe that water is a basic requirement that we need to accept and embrace if we are ever going to live in a fair society. Water is a movement that fights for equality and stands against situations that actively discriminate.”
Marie Yako: “Water is dancing over the demons of ignorance.”
Emilía Rut Þórðardóttir: “Water to me is fighting against men stealing freedom from women, whether it is victim blaming or banning abortions. Whether it is banning being topless, banning certain clothing for women at school or in the workplace. Water gives opportunities to so many women. If we all stand together we can make anything happen.”
Sadie Lune: “Water is a thrust, a reminder, a labor, a legacy, a continuing decision, a lens, an approach to sex, an approach to the mirror, and a parenting guide. Water is a thread that sews, through shame, from my body; the cunt, the heart, the spreading wrinkles; to the bodies of my community, my child; to bodies beyond – in work, on the street, in court, in bed, in jail, in countries I have never seen.”
Emilía Rut Þórðardóttir: “Water to me is fighting against men stealing freedom from women, whether it is victim blaming or banning abortions. Whether it is banning being topless, banning certain clothing for women at school or in the workplace. Water gives opportunities to so many women. If we all stand together we can make anything happen.”
Magic Island: “Water is soft, yet powerful. It has the ability to heal and corrode, yet appear so serene and elegant. Without it we cannot have life, and this is the ultimate power. Similarly to the strength and magic of a woman. We can create life. Fucking life. What is more powerful than that?”
Soul Suleiman: “Water to me is acknowledging that as a Queer Black Womxn, I have gained privileges throughout the struggle but with those privileges come responsibilities.”
Gifty Lartey & Andy Calypso: “Shero (Urban Dictionary): A hero or heroine is someone who fights for human rights in general. Expanding on general ‘heroism’, a Shero is a man or woman who stands up specifically for female rights. Water is the belief in equality for all women; sheroism is the action.”
Little Voice: “Water is a voice for equality, a space where women are free to define their identity, a movement celebrating the super powerful softness of the universe.”
Joanna Catherine Schröder: “As a woman, a human being, water is just a part of me. And it is a part of all of us or at least it should be. And it’s as subtile and as simple as that. I’m water, I breathe it, I feel it, I’m made of it and when I fall asleep I think about it in my dreams. I just hope that one day everyone will realise and understand, that we all need water to survive.”
Goodyn Green: “Water is a daily assignment for me; changing the names and gender of the heroes in my son’s children’s books, using a gender-neutral language when I teach, choosing female collaborators for stereotypical male tasks when making films. The list is long.”
Cleo Kempe Towers: “Water to me is to interrupt men, and to stand behind other people who experience sexism in patriarchy.”
Michelle Sattva: “It is very simple. A world without colours, without shapes Without scents, without tones Without incentives, without senses Not thinking, just feeling.. ..feeling the energy, the vibrations, the frequencies, the.. Just air to breathe, just water to survive Be awake And we let loose.”
Minji Oh: “I just want to do whatever I want to do, and to be whoever I want to be. It sounds so easy, but it is not when you are labelled female. I am fighting for my rights. That is my water.”
Emilia Palmén: “I think water is extremely hard to put into words, even though it’s not that complicated. But to not make it a marathon answer: it’s my right to be heard and respected, and it’s my obligation to listen to and respect others.”
Hengameh: “Water is essential, but it can only work intersectionally.”
Sara Michael: “Water has always been essential to me and everyone around me. I did not know why I needed it when I was younger, nor 100 % what it truly consisted of, but I have always identified with elements such as water. It is incredibly important to me that all types of water receive the same appreciation.”
Layana: “Intersectionally; water is a good place to start healing.”
Liv Fleischhacker: “Water needs to equate intersectional water, which stands stands for the rights and empowerment of all women no matter their sexuality, economic status, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or language.”
