RE-KONZTRUKT: Women and Tools
Collaboration with Luis Sierra – Nuyorican comic book artist based in South Bronx
9 large embroidery pieces / 2017
For many years, my art practice was greatly informed by the representation of women that inhabit Mexican adult comic books. I appropriated these images, in an attempt to liberate these women from their deplorable characterizations. These appropriations were articulated through the use of domestic techniques such as embroidery and crochet. I never knew who the comic book artists were because they often do not reveal their real names, since creating work for adult comic books is not considered their primary work, but rather a popular genre that provides them simply with additional income.
So, when I saw Luis' work I became quite interested in collaborating with a real comic book artist, one I could actually speak to and share ideas about possible projects. In 2017, we discussed the possibility of creating a series of embroideries with fierce women holding tools. Tools that transform matter, that transform the world they inhabit.
Rather than their bodies used as sexual objects, directed primarily to the male gaze, we decided to create women in ordinary poses and day to day clothing holding or resting on a tool, ready to transform the world! The result was this 9 piece series.
About Luis Sierra
Luis Sierra was born in Puerto Rico, raised in the South Bronx, SVA alumnus trained under Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman among others. His specialties are mainly horror, sci-fi and fantasy; he can also illustrate other types of genres such as crime stories or comedies. Why the love for art? It's the wonderful feeling of creating characters, situations, and other worlds.