Yolanda M. López, “Nuestra Madre”.

 I really liked Yolanda M. López's work because I felt like it connected some of our Mesoamerican indigenous religious symbols and deities with modern day Mexican religious icons.  For example, the Aztec creation deity Coatlicue is a powerful symbol of a strong feminine figure that has the ability to create life or destroy it. Coatlicue is an ancient ancestor deity who gave birth to the sun Huitzilopochtli and the moon Coyolxauhqui. While the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe is more passive and docile than the Aztec creation deity Coatlicue, she is still powerful and has become a well known icon over the years. Both of these images combined are powerful female symbols of Mexican and indigenous identity and faith.

Yolanda M. López incorporates the empowering anthropomorphic symbol of the Aztec deity Coatlicue superimposed over a simplified depiction of the Virgen de Guadalupe. An important religious image of the patron saint in Mexico City, is the Virgen de Guadalupe who is Catholic. This creative representation of our indigenous ancestral deity Nuestra Madre (Our Mother) Tonantzin, creates a powerful contextual message between the art-piece and the viewer who might be a religious Catholic person. I like this connection between the past and the present, indigenous Aztec deity and Mexican Patron Saint. Coatlicue is a fierce creation goddess that is respected, revered, and at times feared. This deity is a great example of a great balance between the forces of good and evil, because one can not exist without the other.

Chicana feminist leader Yolanda M. López is a powerful creative female political artist. I believe that art is a powerful tool that has the ability to transcend restricted boundaries. And artist Yolanda M. López has managed to transcend socio-political boundaries that deal with sexism, racism, and immigration. Her work addresses relevant social issues concerning gender, racism, migration, religion, womanhood, and femininity in a male dominated society.

“Nuestra Madre”

Acrylic and Oil paint on masonite. 48 x 96 in., 1981-88.

Yolanda M. López