Ana Mendieta Body Tracks

Ana Mendieta was a Cuban-American artist who, in her tragically short career, made over 100 films in direct dialogue with her work in performance, sculpture and photography. Over two screenings, the series presents 27 of the over 100 film and video works made by the artist over a ten-year period. [The first] screening presents a selection of the short films Mendieta made between 1971 and 1974, beginning with what is believed to be her first film. Mendieta appears in the majority of the films from this period, whether in public performances or in privately filmed actions. Using materials such as animal blood, bird feathers, grass, air, water and earth, she stages ritualistic scenes characterised by their deep sense of poignancy and poetic beauty. [The second] screening presents a selection of short films Mendieta made between 1975 and 1981. In 1975, the artist experimented with different imaging and processing technologies including video and Cinefluography (X-ray motion film). These are the last films in which she appears. In Mendieta's Silueta films (1974-81), we see the artist's silhouette inscribed into various outdoor landscapes in Iowa and Mexico using natural elements such as earth, sand, flowers, rock and grass, often in conjunction with flammable materials such as fireworks and gunpowder. The programme concludes with two films shot in Mendieta's native country of Cuba. These works capture the artist's rock etchings and sand sculpture of goddess figures from the Pre-Columbian Taíno culture.--from Tate website.