A museum in Mexico City found itself in controversy after depicting a piece with a "misogynistic" term meant to degrade women.
Last week, the University Museum of Contemporary Art (MUAC) in Mexico City exhibited a piece from Ana Gallardo, which pays homage to sex work.
In a report shared by ART News, the elderly sex worker in Gallardo's artwork was described as a "whore," which many find derogatory. While MUAC defended the work and called it artistic freedom, their statement did not calm public emotions. People who protested the term drew graffiti on the museum's facade and demanded respect for sex workers.
As a result, MUAC has now temporarily closed Ana Gallardo's exhibit and will remain that way while authorities review the case.
Since 2008, the artist Ana Gallardo has carried out a series of actions/performances in different parts of the world for the work Escuela de Edad (School of Aging ), which is based on the idea of a learning school for aging; a space in which older women can give due space to their artistic impulses. In this way, the artist seeks to vindicate women whose professional achievement is co-opted by gender mandates.Screenshot from MUAC Official Website
Ana Gallardo's Piece at MUAC
Ana Gallardo is an Argentinian artist and is well-known across Latin America. She has exhibited her work at major events, with the MUAC beginning in August. Her work focuses on women's issues and even includes text-based pieces.
Gallardo's MUAC piece stemmed from her conversation with Estela, an elderly sex worker she met at a shelter called Casa Xochiquetzal in Mexico City. The work features unpunctuated lines that describe the experience of visiting the shelter without naming it explicitly. Some phrases, however, seem disconnected and used words like "whore." It is unclear on whose perspective is being shown.
The shelter accused Ana of lying about her relationship with Estela, which they said was evident in her artwork. Casa Xochiquetzal added that building a meaningful connection with Estela would mean understanding of using terms like whore and prostitute, since it is hurtful to the residents and will only revictimize them.
MUAC came to the artist's defense and explained that it's a part of a larger project that reflect her experiences and struggles with a society that neglects elderly people. The similar ART News report shared that MUAC has set up a meeting with the shelter so they can have a respectful dialogue and idea exchange.
Gallardo's exhibit will run through December 13 in MUAC.
