Mercedes Azpilicueta

Mercedes Azpilicueta - Bestiary of Tonguelets (Bestiaire of Tonguelets)

Technique: Chinese ink on paper

Artist Biography: Mercedes Azpilicueta is an Argentine artist currently based in the Netherlands. Her work is characterized by the use of different media, including performance, drawing, sculpture and video, to explore themes such as identity, femininity and representation.In her work, Azpilicueta focuses on the exploration of voice, body and language, using a variety of techniques and materials to create pieces that move between the abstract and the figurative. Many of his works have a strong performative dimension, inviting the viewer to participate in the creation of the work's meaning.Azpilicueta has received several awards and recognitions throughout his career. In 2019, she won the Gasworks Art Prize in London, which included a three-month artist residency in the city. In 2017, she was selected to participate in the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten artist residency program in Amsterdam, and in 2018 she received the Koninklijke Prijs voor Vrije Schilderkunst Award, one of the most prestigious art prizes in the Netherlands.Azpilicueta's style is characterized by her multidisciplinary approach and her ability to combine seemingly disparate elements to create works that challenge hegemonic narratives and gender stereotypes. Her work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Europe and Latin America, and her innovative and provocative style has made her one of the most interesting and relevant artists of her generation.

 

Rooted in the fantastic genre, the script is initially inspired by proto-scientific medieval books of botanical plants, imaginary animals and beasts that have populated and inspired the imagination for many centuries. The script touches on early ecofeminists theories, forgotten and obsolete knowledge such as alchemy and natural medicinal herbs, crafted textile and dyeing techniques, "neobarroso" (neo-baroque) poetry, 'dirty' or failed translations, fantastic beings, witches, healers and legends from medieval Europe and Pre-Hispanic America. - Rooted in the fantasy genre, the script is initially inspired by medieval proto-scientific books of botanical plants, imaginary animals and beasts that have populated and inspired the imagination for many centuries. The script touches on primitive ecofeminist theories, forgotten and obsolete lore such as alchemy and natural medicinal herbs, handcrafted textiles and dyeing techniques, "neobarroso" (neo-Baroque) poetry, 'dirty' or failed translations, fantastic beings, witches, healers and legends from medieval Europe and pre-Hispanic America.