Dönüştürücü Bir Güç, Güçlendirici Bir Etki: Feminist Performans Sanatında “Doğal”ın Ritüelistik Dirilişini Tartışmak

Abstract

From the 1970s on, feminist artists have challenged the male dominated art world and questioned gender norms, often through a focus on the body. Artists engaging with the great goddess cult have created a visual language using the metaphor of "mother nature." These artists (ecofeminists) informed by ecological sensitivity have taken the continuity of nature and of life within it as central to their inquiries and create performances inspired by the rituals of the historical matriarchal era. This article examines the use of such symbols and rituals in feminist performance and explores their place in contemporary art. Central to the discussion is the association of women with nature a key issue in feminist theory. The research critically addresses the patriarchal notion that feminine qualities are "natural," a claim used to reinforce gender inequality through biological essentialism. Using a literature review and descriptive analysis, this study discusses the work of pioneering feminist performance artists, such as Carolee Schneemann, Mary Beth Edelson, Ana Mendieta, Donna Henes, and Betsy Damon. It then turns to Türkiye, analyzing performances by Ay4a Ceylan, Nazlı Gürlek, Nezaket Ekici, and CANAN from the perspective of ecological feminism. The article emphasizes concerns about essentialism and concludes that while some feminist artists reproduce traditional associations between women and nature, others subvert and liberate these representations, offering a more dynamic and transformative image of womanhood.