museumoflatinamericanart:
María Guadalupe (Mexico, b. 1982) La última muñeca / The Last Doll, 2012. Photograph, 6’ x 4’. Courtesy of the Artist
“María Guadalupe poses as a doll
known as an última muñeca (last doll)
in this photograph. Dressed in majestic finery she stands in a dressmaker’s
store, waiting to be purchased. The última
muñeca is a central part of many quinceañera
celebrations, a coming-of-age party held when a girl turns fifteen. The
doll is handed to the birthday girl by her male escort and she often performs a
ritual waltz with it. Many elaborate rites may revolve around the doll, ending in
a moment when the young woman passes the última
muñeca to a younger girl, ceremoniously leaving childish things behind and
entering the realm of womanhood. María Guadalupe was born in Jalisco and
migrated to the US as an infant. Her work deals with the symbolic objects and complex
customs that surround significant moments in the lives of women and girls.” -Gabriela Martinez, Curator of Education at MOLAA
To learn more about María Guadalupe’s work, dial 562 387 1664 and press
2.
This piece is part of the Who Are You? exhibit in MOLAA’s Port to Learning Gallery (On Display through March 13, 2016).