Saint Phalle, Niki de

When Niki de Saint Phalle presented her first Nana sculpture made of papier mâché in the mid-sixties,
it became evident that this was the beginning of feminist adversity. Her round and happy but militant
and brightly coloured Nana sculptures did not reflect the generally accepted characteristics of women
in society at the time. Instead it portrayed female self-determination far off all ideals of beauty, and an
unbiased but provocative view on sexuality and the body.

Niki de Saint Phalle took on the unquestioned male chauvinism of the era, she did so with giant sculptures and
installations and an unfortunately not so comprehensive pool of original graphic art and screen prints as well as lithographs.