The word is out. All the coolest girls fight for human rights, and at Great Park Gallery in Irvine, the Grrrl Germs: Punk Feminism Goes Viral, 1991–2026 exhibition is spreading that news. Presented by Daisy Chain Fields Festival , the exhibition showcases more than 100 DIY posters and zines tackling issues like abortion rights, racism, and LGBTQ activism spanning 35 years. “Riot Grrrl is often minimized as a subgenre of punk music, but here you can see it transcends genre and aesthetic,” exhibition curator, Astria Suparak, told us. “It’s an attitude and agenda that rejects patriarchy and oppression.” And while music and activism have long been inextricably intertwined within the Riot Grrrl movement, many forget that fashion plays a part as well. Enter Loewe. In support of this exhibition, the Spanish brand is helping highlight the intersection of fashion and feminism, and the vital role fashion houses can play in our community. Before the exhibition closes its doors, Suparak spoke with us about patriarchy, punk music, and how women all over the world have banded together to fight for their rights one flyer at a time.
INTERVIEW: What was the impetus behind this exhibition? What did you hope a modern festival audience would take away from it?
SUPARAK: I wanted to showcas e the global nature and impact of Riot Grrrl, which is evidenced by materials hailing from over 30 countries and across four decades in Grrrl Germs . Riot Grrrl is often minimized as a subgenre of punk music, but here you can see it transcends genre and aesthetic. It’s an attitude and agenda that rejects patriarchy and oppression, and cultivates creativity and self-made community. It continues to resonate in our current moment where Roe v. Wade has been overturned, Title IX protections rescinded for sexual orientation and gender expression, and rape culture is gleefully endorsed by the highest levels of government.
INTERVIEW: Did you notice any interesting or surprising throughlines in the exhibition or the graphics used in the fliers?
SUPARAK: The exhibition offers a glimpse into the types of community building and political causes supported by riot grrrl s through 150 selected fliers. One commonality is the support for victims of gender-based violence, with examples of fundraising events from Brazil, Kazakhstan, South Africa, and the U.S. There’s a poster for an exhibition in the Philippines advocating for female agricultural workers. And one for a collective protest in South Korea organized in response to the illegal declaration of martial law. Workshops and skillshares show up frequently, often for self-defense training, zine-making, DIY healthcare, and art-making. Although the majority of the events are based around music, many feature multiple types of creative expression, such as film, visual art, performance, and literary arts.
Visually, images of women, girls, and genderqueer folks (many playing instruments and singing, some dancing, filming, or sewing) are a throughline, in wildly diverse styles: bubbly illustrations, gothic drawings, chaotic collages, détourned comics, and archival and documentary photos. There are plenty of hearts, stars, and female symbols, as well as signs of protest like raised fists, waved banners, and a Molotov cocktail.
INTERVIEW: What did Loewe’s support bring to this project or allow you to do that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise?
SUPARAK: I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity to create an important exhibition about the wide influence that Riot Grrrl has had, and continues to have, for audiences at Daisy Chain Fields and in Southern California. A few weeks before the exhibition launch, I was delighted to learn that a renowned brand like Loewe was stepping up to support an exhibition spotlighting radical feminism and punk music. We need more support like that in the arts, especially in this era of diminishing funding; the shuttering of many arts, educational, and publishing institutions; and the active erasing of minoritized people from government websites and public parks. Loewe had total trust in my vision for Grrrl Germs , which is incredibly meaningful.
INTERVIEW: How do you see the Riot Grrrl legacy being carried on today?
SUPARAK: In researching for Grrrl Germs I learned about musicians around the world that either describe themselves as riot grrrl or proudly claim it as an influence, whose own music resides in hip-hop, electro, surf, industrial, goth, pop, and other genres. You can listen to a sampling of these bands in the regional music areas of the exhibition, which include Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
Each riot grrrl scene was a response to its specific location, political climate, and era, with chapters continuing to open every year. I’ve tracked the movement with an interactive map color-coded by decade which is viewable online and in the exhibition . I welcome people to submit their own riot grrrl chapters and Ladyfest gatherings!
The Grrrl Germs exhibition endeavors to show that Riot Grrrl was much more impactful and diverse than it’s given credit for, and that the movement continues to inspire.
Source: Fashion
