‘Torn Clean’ by Chloe Wise: The Importance of Embracing Images of Women Smiling without Inhibition

Canadian painter Chloe Wise has been known for provocative pieces addressing capitalism from a feminist lens, where she often utilizes food and agriculture to speak about issues that confine both women and the environment. Now, in her latest European show titled Torn Clean at Almine Rech, Brussels, Wise takes on a different approach to feminism by instead diving into portraiture. Here, the exhibition walls have been filled with portraits Wise made of her friends, women who are all smiling without inhibitions. As a result, they appear far from the posed looks of women often found in the public’s eye, showing a hidden side of women not found in advertising or pop culture, a side that appears deranged or even down-right psychotic.

Wise uses these smiling portraits to investigate a quote from Jean Baudrillard that reads, “Smile if you have nothing to say, most of all, do not hide the fact you have nothing to say nor your total indifference to others.” Hence, Wise sees the controlled “pretty” smiles often expected of women as a way to erase their existence, experiences and voice. The paintings in Torn Clean, where women are embracing their inhibited smiles become a way for Wise to restore power to these women and women everywhere around the globe. This is why Torn Clean by Chloe Wise is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Gender Equality.

Wise’s paintings showcase feminine rage, women’s wild and even mad inner states that have had to be suppressed in the face of a patriarchal society. These paintings reject patriarchal gender norms which calls for representations of femininity to often be subtle, well-composed and therefore meek and submits to the whims of masculine forces.

In Torn Clean, Chloe Wise redefines feminine expression by portraying women with uninhibited, unfiltered smiles, revealing an authentic side rarely seen in mainstream culture. Through these raw, joyful and sometimes unsettling portraits, Wise challenges the stereotypical “pretty” smiles society expects of women, which often serve to mute their voices and experiences. By showcasing genuine emotion, Wise’s work empowers women to reclaim their individuality and resist the constraints of patriarchal norms. Her exhibition highlights the importance of embracing true expressions of femininity, advocating for a world where women can fully be themselves.

Find out more about Torn Clean and other pieces by Chloe Wise on her website www.chloewise.com or Instagram @chloewise_.