Production stills: Roni Mocán
New York, 2003
Video:
Single-channel digital video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds
Color, Silent
Photos:
Digital C-Prints
16” x 20” each
Video close-up of my hands in a static single shot, in which I apply red nail polish continuously until the bottle it’s finished.
In the name of beauty most women will put on makeup, do their hair, nails, depilate, diet, fix their noses and breasts. Although few women will reach society’s beauty ideals, they will sculpt their bodies as needed. In this video I play along with women’s beauty rituals, performing them in exaggerated ways to reflect the pressures imposed by today’s society. The camera focuses on the part of the body where the action takes place: With repetitive gestures I apply nail polish continuously for two hours, questioning our attraction to makeup and its power of seduction.
Its title was inspired by the Red Riding Hood tale.
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Goldman, Paula. Imagining Ourselves: Global Voices from a New Generation of Woman. San Francisco: New World Library.
West, Cassandra. “A generation arrives.” Chicago Tribune/Woman News, 2006
Transgresiones: Mujeres que cuestionan,
Fundación ArtNexus (Online)
September 2–November 15, 2020
Curators: Celia Sredni de Birbragher and Natalia Espinel
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Bittersweet
Set of 2 porcelain teacups and saucers broken and glued back together
Dimensions variable
Valentía y coraje (Courage and Bravery)
Red high-heel shoes, cord and tempera
Dimensions variable (Shoes: 9.5” x 5.5” x 5.5” | 24 x 14 x 14 cms)
Recuerdo de nuestra boda (Memories of Our Wedding)
Installation of twenty wedding gowns
Dimensions variable
Bésame mucho (Kiss Me Plenty)
White mens handkerchief and red lipstick
14.5 x 14.5 each | 37 x 37 cms
Courtesy of the CPPC, Museo Amparo and Carlos Varillas
Portadores de sentido—Contemporary Art from the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros,
Museo Amparo, Puebla, Mexico
February 9–July 22, 2019
Curated by Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Wolves, Magic Mirrors & Spinning Wheels: The Anatomy of Fairy Tales,
The Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art, Scranton, PA
July 15–Dec 31, 2016
Curated by Nezka Pfeifer
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of Hannah Cattarin
Abject Subjects,
Art Exchange Gallery, University of Essex, UK
May 21–June 20, 2015
Curated by MA Critical Curating students Yusra Ali, Catalina Bunge, Hannah Cattarin and Jana Hess
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Flow: Economies of the Look and Creativity in the Contemporary Art of the Caribbean,
IDB Cultural Center, Washington, DC.
June 6–August 29, 2014
Curated by Elvis Fuentes with Meyken Barreto
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of SHOWstudio Gallery
Selling Sex,
SHOWstudio Gallery, London, UK
March 22–June 1, 2012
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of A.I.R. Gallery and Jeanette May
Privacy Please!,
A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
November 2–November 26, 2011
Curated by Erin Riley-Lopez and Annette Rusin
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Disillusions: Gendered Visions of the Caribbean and its Diasporas,
Middlesex County College, Studio Theatre Gallery, Edison, NJ
September 27–November 8, 2011
Curated by Tatiana Flores
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Serie “A flor de piel”
Collages on paper using images from women’s magazines
Left: 14” x 11”; Right: 5.5” x 14” each
Serie “Flores silvestres” (“Wildflowers” Series)
Collages on vintage botanical prints using images from women’s magazines
Dimensions variable (approx. 8.5” x 5.5” each)
Basic Instinct,
Black and White Project Space, Brooklyn, NY
December 17, 2010–January 23, 2011
Curated by Sasha Okshteyn
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Pinta NY, Latin American Art Fair,
Booth from ROLLO Contemporary Art
Pier 92, New York, NY
November 12–14, 2010
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Serie “Por siempre joven” (“Forever Young” Series)
#33 to #38
Artist's gray hair, black silk, and embroidery hoop
Courtesy of City of Women
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back,
16th International Festival of Contemporary Arts,
City of Women, Ljubljana, Slovenia
October 8–17, 2010
Curated by Mara Vujic and Predrag Pajdic
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)
Single-channel video
58 minutes, no audio
Courtesy of Pinta London and Pablo Corradi
Courtesy of Rollo Contemporary Art
Pinta London, Latin American Art Fair,
Booth from ROLLO Contemporary Art
Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England
June 3–6, 2010
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of Galería Antonia Puyó
Caperucita ha crecido,
Galería Antonia Puyó, Zaragoza, Spain
March 18–April 10, 2010
Curated by Fanny Guerineau
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of Rollo Contemporary Art
The Body in Women’s Art Now: Part 1: Embodied,
New Hall Art Collection, Cambridge, UK
January 31–February 28, 2010
Curated by Philippa Found
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of Rollo Contemporary Art
The Body in Women’s Art Now: Part 1: Embodied,
ROLLO Contemporary Art, London, UK
October 14–November 20, 2009
Extended until January 20, 2010
Curated by Philippa Found
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)
Single-channel video
58 minutes, no audio
¡Aquí! (Here), An Uptown Latino Art Exhibition,
Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Gallery, New York, NY
September 25–December 30, 2009
All three videos were shown in the same monitor:
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of Emiliano Valdés—CCE/G
Pintura: El proyecto incompleto,
espacio ce!, Centro de Formación de la Cooperación Española, La Antigua, Guatemala
April 30–June 6, 2009
Curated by Rosina Cazali and Emiliano Valdés
All three videos were shown in the same monitor:
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of Abelino Bautista—Arte Américas
Espada de Dos Filos, Latina Voices: California–New York,
Arte Americas, Fresno, CA
December 16, 2008–February 14, 2009
All four videos were shown in the same monitor:
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)
Single-channel video
58 minutes, no audio
Resonance New York,
Monkdogz Urban Art Gallery, New York, NY
January 17–February 23, 2008
Curated by Diana Schmertz
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Digital C-Prints
16” x 20” each
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Digital C-Prints
16” x 20” each
The Feminine Mystique: Contemporary Artists Respond,
Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ
September 20, 2007–February 24, 2008
Curated by Rocío Aranda-Alvarado
All three videos were shown in the same monitor:
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of El Museo del Barrio
El Museo’s 5th Bienal: The Selected Files 007,
El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY
July 25, 2007–January 6, 2008
Co-curated by Elvis Fuentes and Carmen E. Ramos
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Courtesy of Aron Conaway
T’What?, Louisville Photo Biennial 2007,
Gallery NuLu, Louisville, KY
June 29–July 30, 2007
Co-curated by Aron Conaway
All four videos were shown in the same monitor:
Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)
Single-channel video
58 minutes, no audio
Courtesy of III Tirana Biennial
Courtesy of Regina José Galindo
Sweet Taboos—Episode 4: Bittersweet, III Tirana Biennial
Villa Goldi complex, Tirana, Albania
October 14–November 10, 2005
Curated by Joa Ljungberg
Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)
Single-channel video
58 minutes, no audio
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Contemporary Latin American Art Group Show,
Shimna, New York, NY
August 18–September 3, 2005
Curated by Risa Needleman Gallery
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Digital C-Prints
16” x 20” each
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Digital C-Prints
16” x 20” each
Ái Spik Ínglish
Rubber stamp prints on paper, 7 in total
8 x 6 | 20 x 15 cms each
Bésame mucho (Kiss Me Plenty)
White mens handkerchief and red lipstick
14.5 x 14.5 each | 37 x 37 cms |
Courtesy of Antonio Lagunas
La región más transparente. Una exploración
de los espacios íntimos,
Centro Cultural de España/Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
August 13–29, 2003
Curated by Rosina Cazali
Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio
Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio
Bésame mucho (Kiss Me Plenty)
White mens handkerchief and red lipstick
14.5 x 14.5 each | 37 x 37 cms |