Katerina Weis. Brides 2023
At the core of the exhibition is a reflection on the concept of “contemporary costume” – a garment that, while declaring the uniqueness of the ritual situation, is subject to the standardized visual code of the fashion industry, marketing and social media. Weis’ focus in her series is not on specific individuals, but rather on the representation of the role that women are expected to embody within the wedding ritual. Their appearance is shaped by the demand for a perfect look: flawless dresses, harmonious floral arrangements, carefully styled make-up and décor, all according to current trends, often with no connection to personal identity or cultural context.
The exhibition asks whether the role of the bride today is becoming a performative mask rather than an expression of individual choice and relational commitment. Creating the illusion of a “perfect day” can thus turn into an aesthetic production that does not need deeper content – and in some cases not even a partner.
In this way, Brides opens up a space for reflection on how contemporary visual culture contributes to the formation of identity, gender expectations and the relationship to tradition. Weis does not evaluate or ironize her work – her photographic language remains precise, factual and visually compelling. It is this ambivalence that allows the exhibition to act as a sociological probe and a quiet but emphatic statement on the contemporary female experience.
OPENING: 17 04 2025 at 17:00
INTRODUCTION: Jindřich Štreit
CURATOR: Štěpánka Bieleszová
DURATION: until 12 06 2025
ARCHDIOCESAN MUSEUM OLOMOUC
AMADEUS COFFEE & WINE
Václavské nám. 4, Olomouc
OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-19:00
FREE ADMISSION
Organized by the Olomouc Museum of Art in cooperation with the Institute of Creative Photography, Silesian University in Opava.