This week I have chosen to focus on Andrew Avila's presentation on the artist, Venessa Ayala. Ayala is primarily a visual artist with a focus on pop-art styles and techniques. Informed by feminist discourse, decolonial strategies, and celebrity culture, much of Ayalas art reimagines popular images of iconic figures such as La Virgen de Guadalupe, Mona Lisa, and Frida Kahlo. In her art, Ayala uses vibrant colors and a watercolor-like style that give her pieces an almost ethereal feel. The three pieces, Chola Lisa, Still Here, and Hindu Guadalupe, that Andrew reviewed are all perfect examples of Ayala's art style and overall artistic goals. Each of the three pieces takes creative approaches in contending with issues of colonialism, and the female from while still remaining faithful to the original material. The first piece of the three Chola Lisa, is a take on the iconic Mona Lisa portrait by Leonardo Da Vinci, in reimagining the piece Ayala confronts issues of eurocentric conceptions of "high-art" and beauty ideals. As implied by the title Ayala's piece Still Here piece brings up issues of colonialism and indigeneity. Lastly, the piece Hindu Guadalupe reconstructs the iconic Virgen De Guadalupe image in the context of Hinduism, adding specific details that reference Hindu culture. Through both her reimagining of iconic figures and dreamy color pallets Ayala creates a reality where beauty is inclusive and cultural wealth is equitably and respectfully shared among everyone.
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