Women Groundbreakers

When someone mentions that Kevlar was invented by Stephanie Kwolek, people are often surprised and amused that such a “manly” invention was in fact created by a woman. Or that CCTV originates from an idea of Marie Van Brittan Brown, that the Earth’s solid core was discovered by Inge Lehmann, and that the original abstract painter is Hilma Af Klint – all of this makes people go “wow!”… Yet, when you mention a man discovering or creating something it is taken as a given, as expected. There is a difference in the way we see women groundbreakers as opposed to men groundbreakers.

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Art For Freedom

A series focused on human trafficking, working in partnership with two Mexican organisations – SINTRATA and the Comisión Unidos Contra la Trata. Anya painted portraits from photographs of the survivors they work with, exhibiting them alongside their stories about their experiences. The collection was showcased at a multidisciplinary event at Carousel Gallery in London Mayfair, with talks by a leading Human Rights barrister, the international anti-slavery charity A21 and bespoke creations by a perfumer and a songwriter.

Rite Of Spring

When the ballet Rite of Spring by Stravinsky came out in 1939 it caused a near-riot, it was that controversial. Depicting Russian pagan culture and the ritual of finding a maiden in the spring and sacrificing her was interpreted through daring choreography, dramatic music and expressive costumes. Even today, it is mesmerising and impressive. To turn the meaning on its head and show resistance to the outdated idea of sacrificing a woman, another figure of a famous ballet dancer is juxtaposed right at the centre of it.