Feminist art in Xalapa generates controversy

Feminist art in Xalapa generates controversy; violence, abuse and resentment are made public
With the title “Daughter of her mother”, Mónica Mayer presents an exercise open to visitors to the Contemporary Art Gallery

Maribel Sánchez / Diario de Xalapa

Mónica Mayer, one of the pioneers of Latin American feminist art, generates controversy in Xalapa, where in addition to exhibiting her works, she invites people to reflect on how you would describe your mother, what is your first memory of violence at home or, if you are a woman, what you have experienced on the streets.

In an exercise open to visitors to the Contemporary Art Gallery, the answers range from gratitude to secrets of violence, abuse and resentment that are made public.

The questioning is directed at others, but also to recognize the violence exercised by oneself.
The result is clear, the majority of those who were attacked or hurt, also have acts of hostility or aggression with their closest circle.

The satisfaction survey about the mother is striking, as she is asked if she would continue using her services and recommend them to other people. The vast majority of participants recommend them and only a few say no.

The artist says that after many years of debuting as a mother, she wants to send her daughter a satisfaction survey to see, from her point of view, how she has done the job. She invites those interested to do the same.

On a scale from 1 to 10, some of the questions are the following: Did I give you tools to be happy? Did I teach you to think critically? Did I make you feel protected? Did I teach you to trust yourself? Did I teach you to feel wonder, curiosity and desire to learn?
Also, did I teach you the importance of surrounding yourself with people who love and support you? Did I teach you to love and care for other people? Did I encourage you to develop to your full potential? Did I teach you to have fun? Do you know that I love you?
What are the thematic axes of the exhibition?

With the title “Daughter of her mother”, the exhibition has three thematic axes: First bonds, Breaking the myth of the family and De-generations, each one made up of a series of artistic pieces accompanied by archival and documentary material.

“The exhibition seeks to bring the viewer closer to what hurts, bothers or affects the author, whose work embodies the feminist slogan that the personal is political and, thus, seeks to transform the social problems that concern not only her, but many other people.”

Mónica Mayer is considered a pioneer of performance and digital graphics in Mexico, and recognized internationally as a precursor and promoter of feminist art.
Source