KitKat, Sexism and the Indecent

Sarah Julia Sabukoschek is a very talented, young and diverse artist. She was born in Graz, Austria and now lives and works in Berlin.

 

Sarah, how do you like the city? What is special about Berlin and what repulses you?

The decision to move to Berlin was one of the most significant and best decisions of my life. I love the open-mindedness of Berlin. I love the eccentricity, the individuality of the people. They are what makes Berlin so special and beautiful. I was not only attracted by the huge creative scene but by the free and alternative ways of living. To me, Berlin feels like a huge canvas that is being painted by everyone. I don’t really find anything repulsive here, just incredibly sad and real how many people live on the streets.

 

What are you looking for in Berlin?

I wouldn’t necessarily say that I am looking for something specific here. It just feels right to be here at the moment. I am inspired by so many different things each and every day and I like to be surrounded by open-minded creative people. I am currently in a very productive creative phase which I want to act out and share it with more people.

 

 

 

Your presence on social media is brimming with feminist statements. Chapeau for your courage to get to the head of that much at such a young age! What is wrong in our society in your opinion? How do you see the role of woman today? What still needs to be changed urgently?

That is the overall thread running through a lot of my work. As a woman, I am permanently affected by everyday sexism. Oppression and violence against womxn is still a huge issue in our society. Cases where men killed their partners or ex partners are called a “relationship drama” and are completely normalized and played down by the media. I don’t know a single womxn who has never been a victim of sexual or domestic violence and sexism. The different way we treat men and womxn has devastating consequences for womxn and we must change that. I will not be silent about that, ever.

The young girl paints a naked woman with her legs spread wide open. Thereby I create the confrontation with female sexuality and everything one associates with it- privately and socially. Of course that will be perceived as provocative. But then one starts to grapple with the topic and why it actually provokes, at best one starts to question the social role of womxn. A womxn who stands by her sexuality or her sexual activeness is directly branded as dubious, incompetent and a bad role model. The fact that many people still consider female sexuality to be shameful, indecent or even gross is a problem I urgently want to draw attention to through my art.

 

 

Tell us about your collaboration with KitKat Club Berlin?

I coincidentally got to know the organizer of one of the most successful and well-known fetish parties in Berlin’s KitKat Club. He liked my art and supported me. Until recently, a film inspired by this special party was shown there every wednesday. The film was a great project, i got to work with a lot of interesting and lovely people. That definitely also broadened my horizons.

 

Your relationship to fetish… doesn’t one have to be a little fetishistic today to be heard, to be “cool”?

I would describe myself as fetish-positive. In my opinion every fetish should be socially accepted and not be judged no matter what, as long as everything is consensual and not harming someone. That is also my message, it doesn’t matter how and with weather you’re sexually active or not, if you have any fetishes or not. Especially as a woman it is important to know that your sexuality is in no way related to your worth, your career or whatever. So no, I don’t think one has to be fetishistic in order to be heard.

 

Does one have to be loud in order to self-reflect nowadays?

I think it doesn’t matter in which way you reflect on the world and yourself. First and foremost it is important to do it on a regular base. But if you really want to change something, you should also be loud in some way, spreading the message and waking up the people.

 

You share pretty frivolous things on Instagram. Not to sound prudish, but what do your parents say?

Nowadays it is in fact considered frivolous if someone is revealing or showing their naked body. On the one hand because nudity is generally considered indecent and on the other hand because women are permanently objectified and sexualized against their will. In order to break out of this image of hyper-sexualized women, it takes women who recapture it. Women who fight for their own self-determination and the self-determination of others despite the many headwinds. I tried to explain that to my parents in the same way and I think they understand. In any case, they always support me in living my dream.

 

What is your vision for contemporary art?

I would like to see more contemporary art in everyday life. Art that is more approachable, art that is prfound, art that is alive and above all art that is accessible and not like a cut-off world in itself. I would also like the represented contemporary art to become a lot more diverse. That more and more young artists, female and queer artists get the space and attention they deserve.

 

 

 

Do you have a fable for the disreputable, the edge of society?

Absolutely. This is where most of the issues are rooted and also most of the solutions. Because nobody wants to be confronted with that, it is pushed to the edge of society. Nevertheless, these are issues that affect all of us directly or indirectly and in my opinion these are the greatest opportunities to grow. When something like this becomes visible through my art it is questionable for some, but it’s effective.

 

Don’t you see the unwritten Insta conventions / stereotypes with regard to the female body a little critical? What do you do to break them?

I see the way of how women are portrayed on social media and the media in general is definitely as problematic in several ways. As a woman it is about being as desirable and beautiful as possible. That doesn’t only support and preach sexist role models but also causes masses of unsettled women and girls. On the other hand we have things like the body-positivity movement which have a very positive approach. Many women these days market themselves through social media. Whether they do that in a more or less conventional way should be left to each woman to decide. Nevertheless the influence we can have one others, especially young adults and children should still be considered. I’m trying to educate people by showing my armpit hair for example. That may seem silly at first but my armpit hair symolizes that it’s okay to not fit any ideals of beauty or follow every trend and that you can always consider yourself as beautiful no matter how you look. We shoudn’t let the fake industry and advertisements influence us too much and carefully choose who we follow on social media.

 

 

What is your vision for contemporary art?

I would like to see more contemporary art in everyday life. Art that is more approachable, art that is prfound, art that is alive and above all art that is accessible and not like a cut-off world in itself. I would also like the represented contemporary art to become a lot more diverse. That more and more young artists, female and queer artists get the space and attention they deserve.

 

How do you combine art and fashion in your work?

My individual design of the bomber jacket from your collection #iwearmyself with you, Paulina, is the first project where I combined my art and fashion directly. There is definitely more to come in that area in the future. I already have some ideas for some wearable art pieces.

 

What is your relationship to the LGBTQ-Community?

As a white cis woman in Germany, I am very aware of my privileges and I think we should all use them to support the minorities and help them to fight for their rights. Those who are discriminated against and who are confronted with social intoleration on a daily base.

 

What visions do you have professionally and privately?

I feel like my private and professional life are always kind fo mixed, but I definitely want to do more public art projects in the future. Reach more and more people through my art and create art in everyday life. I want to improve and expand my techniques and implement an infinite amount of ideas and concepts I have in mind. My paintings will become bigger in the future and of course I want a growing audience for my art. In my private life I would like to develop myself further and actually become more active politically.

What is your relationship to the LGBTQ-Community? As a white cis woman in Germany, I am very aware of my privileges and I think we should all use them to support the minorities and help them to fight for their rights. Those who are discriminated against and who are confronted with social intoleration on a daily base. What visions do you have professionally and privately? I feel like my private and professional life are always kind fo mixed, but I definitely want to do more public art projects in the future. Reach more and more people through my art and create art in everyday life. I want to improve and expand my techniques and implement an infinite amount of ideas and concepts I have in mind. My paintings will become bigger in the future and of course I want a growing audience for my art. In my private life I would like to develop myself further and actually become more active politically.

Instagram-Post by @paulinasfriendsfashion with Sarah Julia Sabukoschek

Dear Sarah, thank you so much for this lovely interview!