Ana Mendieta: A Book of Works

by Ana Mendieta (Artist), Bonnie Clearwater (Editor)

Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta was working on many important projects that were left incomplete at the time of her tragic death in 1985 at age 36. Among these was a beautiful book of photo etchings of her carvings of female figures in remote caves on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba. These sculptures were inspired by the myths and beliefs of the Tainos, preColumbian inhabitants of the West Indies. This publication reproduces in facsimile Mendieta's unfinished book of photo etchings and related works and publishes, for the first time, her notes and writings for this important project. Mencdieta's work crosses the categories of earth art,body art,performance and conceptual photography. As her works generally were site specific and ephemeral,they became know primarily through the photographic documentation she exhibited in galleries and museums. She intended her intimate book of photo etchings to capture the experience of viewing her elusive life-size sculptures in the close quarters of the caves. Illustrated with many never-before published photographs, this book is an important contribution to the understanding of his extraordinary artist.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

74 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1993

Reviews

[Michael Vagnetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will likely never have a chance to go to these caves - they are very remote - but the etchings, with their static effects, are taken from the vantage point of what it would be like if you did.

This book carefully documents the genesis of the project about Taíno myths, specifically regarding the creation of women and the elements.

"Art must have begun as nature itself, in a dialectical relationship between humans and the natural world from which we cannot be separated...For the past twelve years I have been working out in nature, exploring the relationship between myself, the earth, and art. I have thrown myself into the very elements that produced me, using the earth as my canvas and my soul as my tools."

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting artist. It was nice getting to see some of her on-site work that would be difficult to see in person.