Odd Girl Out

Robilant+Voena is pleased to announce an exhibition of new works by Icelandic artist Sunneva Ása Weisshappel. This is Weisshappel’s second solo show with R+V, expanding upon the successful exhibition in London that took place in 2022, entitled Sunneva Ása Weisshappel: New Work.

A compelling exploration of the hidden aggression and vindictive elements in female relationships especially among young girls, the works draw upon Weisshappel’s experiences growing up as a teenager in the 2000s and take inspiration from the ideas put forth in the book Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons. Imbued with a bitter nostalgia, the exhibition sheds light on the covert bullying that is rampant between girls in childhood and adolescence—the alienation of girls as perpetrated by girls through means of social exclusion and rumors. Additionally, the works reflect upon the desire to fit in, navigating the subtle and perilous hierarchies of the school playground or the teenage party, and be accepted by one’s peers.

By elucidating this phenomenon, Weisshappel seeks to disrupt the narrative of docile femininity in girlhood. Instead, she offers a raw perspective, subverting the notion that violence is a solely masculine trait while exploring the more discreet manifestation of female powerplay. The result is a candid, and sometimes uncomfortable, glimpse at the synchronous truth of women and girls as both victims and perpetrators.

Using an eclectic yet considered range of materials, including found objects such as Barbie dolls, zippers, patches of demin jeans, and glitter, the artist creates canvases with layers of distinct elements . Through this process, she explores the coarser side of femininity, juxtaposing delicate and seemingly innocence elements with robust, raw and fragmented materials. In the artist’s words: ‘The palette, symbols, titles, and abstract language employed in my art are deeply influenced by my personal experiences, resources, and the era and environment in which they took place’.