“CARNE,” meaning “meat” in Spanish, is the first solo exhibition by Jessica Sharon. CARNE deals with the status, role, and representation of women in the media landscape of the 20th century.

The exhibit consists of 80 paintings depicting scenes from films, TV series, and advertising, spanning from the 1950s to the present day. These images illustrate the use of the female body as a form of propaganda; the media utilizes women as a tool to establish a patriarchal culture. This culture aims to preserve the male’s position in society as dominant and strong, while defining woman’s place as passive and weak.

Jessica recalls her childhood memories of growing up in Argentina: “In the 80s and 90s, we would watch prime-time TV shows that explicitly portrayed women as sexual objects. Objectification was presented as a form of entertainment. The female characters were somehow always involved in violence, eroticism, or sex. One segment called ‘The Girl’ (La Nena) featured a girl who would come to the newsstand seller just to show him her bottom.”

The women who are exploited and weakened in the media receive the opposite treatment in my works. They are portrayed as strong and determined in the way they sacrifice their dignity and body, and by playing the victims of the system of male hegemony in our collective subconscious.

To me, they are heroes.

Abraham Hostel, Tel-Aviv 2019