”Madonna” is a manifesto. Both visually and literary. ”Madonna” explores not only her representation in art history but also how this figure has shaped the perception of femininity over time. Through the monthly documentation of menstruation, she highlights the shared connection among women—a bond that becomes a symbol of solidarity and shared experiences. In this context, menstruation is not merely a biological process but also an act of resistance and a reaffirmation of feminine identity.
The project is part of the subtheme Cultural Resilience - Literature as a force for social justice.
Author
Teodora Rotaru
Teodora Rotaru is an interdisciplinary visual artist currently pursuing a master’s degree in Photo-Video at the National University of Arts in Bucharest, where she also completed her undergraduate studies. Her artistic practice spans photography, collage, performance, installation, and experimental film, with a focus on personal experience, feminism, rituals, and socio-political issues.
A central theme in her work is the exploration of rituals. Drawing from anthropological and mythological traditions, she creates personal rituals that integrate her body as both a tool and a medium. Through this approach, she investigates identity—both individual and collective—alongside themes of self-representation, myths, and archetypes.
Her works have been showcased in national and international exhibitions and festivals, including On Photography...and Few Other Things at Strata Gallery, Bucharest, Romania (curated by Michele Bressan, 2022); And What Art Can Do About It at WASP, Bucharest, Romania (curated by Irina Botea Bucan, Jon Dean, and Anca Rujoiu, 2022); Retrospect Decommissioned Works at Lodger Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri (curated by Craig Auge); and Going On at HSBI (via Switch Lab Gallery), Bielefeld, Germany (curated by Michele Bressan, 2024).
