The “Interview with Ana Teresa Fernández” was an insightful article that allowed me to not only understand the artist as an individual but also as an activist for the unjustly feminicides within Latin America. I was especially amazed at her paintings; at first glance, I assumed that the images were close-up photographs of women yet the more I observed the images, I realized that they were actually paintings. According to the interview, Fernández states that her mother, a photographer, was the main source of inspiration within her paintings: “A lot of my paintings is channeling her, as is the activism in my work. She is a photographer that has been documenting the border and its inhabitants between Tijuana/San Diego for over 10 years. Her photographs are heart-wrenching and beautiful” (3). Although the artist feels that her sculptures are “more interactive” (3), her paintings are based on “personal narratives, familiar gender challenges, and inequalities [such as] education, labor, and sexuality” (3). Just as Fernández wanted viewers to “stir more questions” (3) about her works, the paintings indeed bring in questions: Why are the faces of the women covered in all the activities that they are performing? Is there significance as to why they wear a black cocktail dress and a pair of black high heels? Are the women representing those who are victims in femimicide or those who are the stereotypical depictions of women who have died? As for myself, when I observe these paintings, not only does each artwork bring a sense of mystery but also a play on the aspect of eroticism in women. It is possible that Fernández purposely dressed these women in black attire in order to create the concept of objectivity towards women; due to their faces being covered, the viewer is only capable of looking at these women in a voyeuristic way. Does that mean the viewer then becomes indirectly involved in the harassment and mistreatment towards the women victims since they are unaware of the presence of the viewer?
I'm not sure about your reading of the color black. What do others think?
It is good that you brought up this term "voyeuristic." What about these images makes you feel as though we are, through our gaze, reinforcing stereotypes?
I think its really interesting that point out that perhaps the viewer is indirectly involved int he objectivity of these women. I must admit when I initially read these articles I was struggle with the artist attempt to address what seemed to me to be two completely different issues: the objectivity of women and issue pertaining to the border. Jackie, you really got me thinking now.
I think we also need to remember to distinguish between the paintings discussed in the article and the performance at the border. They're different works that are addressing different concerns. But, let's discuss this further in class tomorrow.
The “Interview with Ana Teresa Fernández” was an insightful article that allowed me to not only understand the artist as an individual but also as an activist for the unjustly feminicides within Latin America. I was especially amazed at her paintings; at first glance, I assumed that the images were close-up photographs of women yet the more I observed the images, I realized that they were actually paintings. According to the interview, Fernández states that her mother, a photographer, was the main source of inspiration within her paintings: “A lot of my paintings is channeling her, as is the activism in my work. She is a photographer that has been documenting the border and its inhabitants between Tijuana/San Diego for over 10 years. Her photographs are heart-wrenching and beautiful” (3). Although the artist feels that her sculptures are “more interactive” (3), her paintings are based on “personal narratives, familiar gender challenges, and inequalities [such as] education, labor, and sexuality” (3). Just as Fernández wanted viewers to “stir more questions” (3) about her works, the paintings indeed bring in questions: Why are the faces of the women covered in all the activities that they are performing? Is there significance as to why they wear a black cocktail dress and a pair of black high heels? Are the women representing those who are victims in femimicide or those who are the stereotypical depictions of women who have died? As for myself, when I observe these paintings, not only does each artwork bring a sense of mystery but also a play on the aspect of eroticism in women. It is possible that Fernández purposely dressed these women in black attire in order to create the concept of objectivity towards women; due to their faces being covered, the viewer is only capable of looking at these women in a voyeuristic way. Does that mean the viewer then becomes indirectly involved in the harassment and mistreatment towards the women victims since they are unaware of the presence of the viewer?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about your reading of the color black. What do others think?
ReplyDeleteIt is good that you brought up this term "voyeuristic." What about these images makes you feel as though we are, through our gaze, reinforcing stereotypes?
I think its really interesting that point out that perhaps the viewer is indirectly involved int he objectivity of these women. I must admit when I initially read these articles I was struggle with the artist attempt to address what seemed to me to be two completely different issues: the objectivity of women and issue pertaining to the border. Jackie, you really got me thinking now.
ReplyDeleteI think we also need to remember to distinguish between the paintings discussed in the article and the performance at the border. They're different works that are addressing different concerns. But, let's discuss this further in class tomorrow.
ReplyDelete