ABSTRACT
In individual and collective works since the 1970s, pioneering Mexican feminist artist Mónica Mayer has dealt with the resistance to and breaking down of stereotypes regarding motherhood. The myth of motherhood was one of the first targets of second-wave feminist activism in Mexico, in demonstrations, caricatures and essays deconstructing its contradictory symbolic usage and its place at the root of women’s oppression. It has continued to be a focus of feminist activism in the ensuing decades, even as expanded terms of discussion have contextualised the issues it unpacks in different ways. The development of Mayer’s artwork in parallel to her formation as a feminist artist and activist interacted with this process, while also exploring the distinct possibilities of artistic action for addressing issues of subjectivity and affect through the use of a variety of media and creative formats, and the incorporation of a significant dose of humour and irony.
