Xandra Ibarra is a multidisciplinary artist that works with the mediums of performance, video, sculpture, print, and photography. After viewing Ibarra’s website, the work that struck me the most was “Nude Laughing.” In this performance, Ibarra went outside in crowded areas with nothing but high heels and a nylon sack filled with items associated with the white woman. As she walked around naked (her breasts covered with a breast plate), Ibarra just laughed and slowly wrapped herself with the nylon. This piece is a commentary on the pressure to relate to white womanhood.
As a woman I found this performance extremely liberating. There are certain notions of femininity that are engrained in society that women are expected to follow. Women are expected to dress modestly, be polite, and have a soft demeanor. Having a woman, especially a woman of color, walk the streets in a way that was loud and revealing is inspiring. Watching Ibarra laugh while breaking the stereotypical notions of femininity made me feel freer in my own body. Though I would not walk around naked in public, this work makes me want to be more vocal about what is important to me and not take life too seriously.
Though I was able to connect with the womanhood aspect of the performance, I was not able to connect personally to the layer about being a woman of color as I am not a woman of color. I was wondering if Ibarra could expand on the interplay between the objects associated with being a white woman in the nylon sack and being a woman of color? Also, I was wondering how Ibarra felt so confident and comfortable breaking the norms of society? Did she have to do any mental preparation before the performance? If so, what was process?
“Nude Laughing.” Xandra Ibarra , Xandra Ibarra , https://www.xandraibarra.com/nude-laughing/.
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