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Dorota Nieznalska has been consistently analysing issues surrounding masculinity for years. Such issues are precisely the focus of two widely-discussed works by the artist: Potencja [Potency] (2000) and Pasja [Passion] (2001). Nieznalska examines the various meanings behind the concept of masculinity, the ways in which it is constructed in the public and private spheres, and the significance attached to it by men as well as women.

This untitled work, to which the term “Bitch” has been attached as an informal heading, points to the interdependency between masculinity and strength as it is understood in the context of violence. The two subjects – a man and a pregnant dog symbolising a woman (as per the vulgar use of the word ‘bitch’ to denote a woman) – are cast in very suggestive roles: that of an executioner and a victim. The man dominates over the surrounding space. He is shown naked from the waist down and faceless, making him a universal figure. The dog is completely subordinate to her master. She casts trusting glances towards him, takes on a compliant posture, and finally lies down on her back, stomach upwards, expressing submissiveness. Behaving in such a way, the dog affirms her master’s position.

Commenting on her work, Nieznalska revealed that she had found inspiration for the installation in an acquaintance’s behaviour towards his partner. She transferred the relationship she observed between the couple to the photos, which depict the dependency of the dog on her master. The installation is a direct reference to violence against women, especially the kind that remains behind closed doors and is often of a sexual nature. The brutality and indifference of the executioner goes hand in hand with the victim’s complete submission and emotional dependency, which disable her from escaping the toxic relationship. A very significant part of the installation is the leather penis muzzle, which imbues the work with an accusatory tone. Here, the muzzle is meant for the executioner and not the victim, making it a symbol of an outcry against violence and a blunt suggestion that violence must be actively opposed instead of succumbed to.

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