Awareness, Pedagogy and Denunciation. The Role of Feminist Art in Mexican Feminism

In this paper, I will analyse the work created by the feminist artists involved in the collective Disidenta, mainly Mónica Mayer, Lorena Wolffer and Cerrucha. Since 2019, the Mexican feminist movement has become more visible: the protests are more significant, more women share the demands and feminist agenda through different channels, and more girls and women identify as feminists (Wolffer et al. 2021). In this context, Mexican feminist artists have joined the movement (‘Ponencia Arte FeministaJulia Antivilo’ 2020); furthermore, they have disposed of their artworks and artistic abilities to increase the visibility of the protests or demands, offer a communication vehicle, divulge feminist knowledge or accompany the victims of gender-based violence. My initial hypothesis is that feminist art resulting from a deep social engagement is an effective ally to guarantee the objectives of the feminist agenda. These objectives encompass deconstructing binary systems, challenging cultural constructions that normalise violence, and questioning traditional definitions of art. Grounded in this premise, I aim to examine forms of artistic activism and what distinguishes them from iconoclast practices, identify art’s role during demonstrations and contribute to the historiography of Mexican feminist art.