'Gender in Izolyatsia' Explores Identity In Ukraine (PHOTOS, NSFW)

We recently featured the work of JeongMee Yoon, who explored gender norms as manifested through various children's color-coded bedrooms. Here we have a very different depiction of the battle between the sexes with this Ukrainian exhibition, titled, "Gender in Izolyatsia: Seams of Patriarchy and Identity Tailoring," which takes place in a former insulation materials factory.

The gallery expresses the troubles that precipitated the exhibition: "People behave like "women" and "men" not because they were born with certain biological characteristics, but because the society in which they lived taught them to think about these characteristics in a certain way." The exhibition will explore why we feel compelled to mimic, conform to and adapt to gender norms. Works range from historical photographs to provocative displays of violence and sexuality. Some pieces depict the norms many of us adhere to while others focus more on the harmful effects of the persecution of difference.

"Gender in Izolyatsia: Seams of Patriarchy and Identity Tailoring" will show from April 20 to July 8 at Foundation IZOLYATSIA. Platform for Cultural Initiatives in Ukraine. Work from Viktoria Myroniuk and Roman Bodnarchuk, Maryna Skugareva, Ksenia Hnylytska, Lada Nakonechna, Alina Kopytsia, Lesia Khomenko, Zhanna Kadyrova, Alina Kleitman, Lubov Malikova, Masha Kulikovska, Oleksiy Salmanov, Masha Shubina, and Synchrodogs Art Collective will be on view.

Do you think gender norms hold true around the world? Let us know in the comments section below.