Ana Mendieta

In much of her work, Mendieta considered the ideas of displacement and exile in relation to her Cuban heritage. Cuba figures prominently in her oeuvre, as both a symbol of loss and a source of inspiration.In 1971, Mendieta made her first trip to Mexico. While there, she became engrossed in pre-Hispanic rituals and iconography, and described her travels to the country as ‘like going back to the source, being able to get some magic just by being there’. It was in Mexico that Mendieta conceived of her most famous and enduring series, Siluetas (1973-1980), in which the female form is imprinted into the landscape. She would return many more times in later years.