When artist Joiri Minaya started Googling using the terms “Dominican women,” she was inundated with photos of women modeling what appeared to be variations of the same few poses. It seemed that all the women either had their hands resting on their hips or stretched out like an odalisque.
Minaya has used the results generated by the search engine, which she described as “exotic and obedient representations of foreign fantasies, but seemingly assertive and self-assured”, as material for multiple works. Among these was the series of years “Containers” (2015-2020), in which textiles based on the flora and fundamental motifs of the aesthetics of the Afro-diasporic peoples of the Americas were printed on spandex full body suits. . In his striking photographs, the figure of the artist is completely obscured by the spandex costume, against a background of similar patterns, so that it becomes part of the scenery.
In an exclusive interview filmed as part of The Art21 series New York close up, Minaya explained the development of her artistic practice and how her upbringing in Santo Domingo influences her work. For the “Containers” series, Minaya described how putting on the suits and striking the poses she saw on Google served as “an exploration for myself but also a questioning of this type of performativity.”
Still from the New York Close Up movie, “Joiri Minaya’s Pattern Making”. © Art21, Inc. 2023.
“Place is important in my work” minaya added, “coming from a determined place in the imagination of others, I am interested in the idea of opacity… a right to remain opaque” and to find peace “without having to explain oneself to others”. In her works, Minaya takes control of the stereotypical images of female subjugation inherent in Western perspectives of her native culture.
“Camouflage is this survival strategy in the natural world,” the artist said. “As we navigate society, this idea of blending in or being visible, and having control of that, I think is a tool for liberation.”
Watch the video, which originally appeared as part of Art21’s series New York close up, below.
This is an episode of “Art on Video”, a collaboration between Artnet News and Art21 that brings you clips from artists who are making the news. A new season of the flagship series of the Art21 association Art in the 21st century is now available on PBS. Watch all episodes of other series, like New York close up And Extended gameand learn about the organization’s educational programs at Art21.org.
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