Beyond the Threshold: Allusions to the Òrìsà in Ana Mendieta's Silueta Series

The Cuban-born artist Ana Mendieta (1948-1985) created the Silueta Series during the 1970s and ‘80s. It consists of earth-body works in situ featuring the silhouette of the artist's body fashioned from mud, plants, rocks, gunpowder and other materials. Underlying the creation of the Silueta Series is Mendieta's belief that the elements are sentient and powerful beings. This perception is particularly strong in the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria, a creolized form of the Òrìsà tradition of the Yoruba of West Africa introduced to the Americas during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. While scholars have noted Mendieta's incorporation of Santeria in her art, a thorough analysis of the iconographical references to the deities have yet to be explored. This thesis aims to provide such an analysis of Mendieta's works; thus enriching the current discourse on the Silueta Series.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Art History

Year dc:date.available

2007

Author dc:creator

• January, LaTricia M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Robert Hobbs
• Dr. Babatunde Lawal

• earth-body works
• earthworks
• Viennese Actionism
• Hans Breder
• Liminal
• Intermedia
• Feminist Art
• Contemporary Art
• Great Goddess
• Neo-paganism
• Afro-Cuban
• Yoruba deities
• Cuba
• Santeria
• Yoruba iconography
• Arts and Humanities

Statement dc:rights

• © The Author

Identifier

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1391

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-2390