Mexican Feminists make an artistic intervention on "national heroes" portraits 1 Favorite
Women's collectives and feminist groups occupied the National Commission of Human Rights demanding results to several neglected, open investigations of feminicide in the country. During the occupation, they interviewed the portraits of historical "national heroes" with spray-paint, glitter, markers, and liquid paint.
They make an art exhibition of their work outside of the building. The paints were reproduced, pictured, circulated, and sold by other feminist organizations, raising money for the cause and the occupation.
The government reacted badly, trying to discredit this act of artistic activism by stating that what the women did was a display of disrespect towards the national history, the art pieces themselves, and the painter, author of the work. On top of that, José Manuel Nuñez, the painter also made a statement through social media, saying that although he lamented the crisis that Mexico was facing "the destruction of history was not the solution". After facing considerable criticism, he took back his statement assuring that "he was sympathetic with the cause". Was he?
The intervened portraits sold out.