Amategram Series - Labyrinth of VenusAna Mendieta · 1981

1981
41.0 x 30.0 cm

Ana Mendieta (1948 – 1985)

Ana Mendieta (1948-1985) was a Cuban-American artist renowned for her 'earth-body' art, powerfully exploring themes of identity, feminism, displacement & nature through performance and sculpture.

This series of Amategrams (see also MMA 1983.502.1 and 1983.502.2)—totemic forms painted onto amate, paper made from bark by indigenous Otomi craftspeople in Mexico—exemplifies Mendieta’s persistent engagement with the female body and the landscape. The abstract shapes rendered in heavy black lines evoke the presence of a female life force, which Mendieta viewed as omnipresent in the natural world, a continuation of her 1970s "earth body" performances and sculptures. The woody materiality of the amate grounds Mendieta’s symbolic mark making in process, suggesting an affiliation with rituals and offerings, as well as the alchemical.

About this artwork

Title: Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus
Artist: Ana Mendieta
Year: 1981
Original dimensions: 41.0 x 30.0 cm
Format: Portrait
Copyright status: Under copyright
Main color: Espresso
Color intensity: Balanced

Questions & Answers

How intense are the colors in "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" by Ana Mendieta?

"Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" by Ana Mendieta shows a balanced color intensity.

When was "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" made?

The creation of "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" by Ana Mendieta is dated 1981.

Who created "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus"?

The artist behind "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" is Ana Mendieta. The work is catalogued under Ana Mendieta's name.

How is the palette of "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" by Ana Mendieta described?

The palette of "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" by Ana Mendieta is described as neutrals. It is a compact description of the work's colors.

What level of contrast does "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" by Ana Mendieta show?

"Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" by Ana Mendieta shows a statement contrast between its light and dark areas.

How do contrast and harmony combine in "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus"?

In "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus", a statement contrast is paired with a unified palette harmony.

At what age did Ana Mendieta make "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus"?

Ana Mendieta was 33 years old when creating "Amategram Series - Labyrinth of Venus" in 1981. The age is computed from the artist's birth year, 1948.