Gift of the Artist

Regina José Galindo lived through nearly two decades of the 36-year Guatemalan Civil War. The country’s history has been marred by oppressive dictatorial regimes, genocide of indigenous peoples, corruption, and more recently, a pervasive culture of violence in which heinous “everyday” crimes such as rape and murder are committed against women. In 2010, Galindo’s hometown of Guatemala City was ranked the third-most dangerous city in the world, with nearly 95 murders occurring every week.

While creating two pivotal works in her oeuvre, XX and Desalojo/Eviction, both initiated at La Verbena Cemetery in Guatemala City, Galindo collected hair from unidentified, unclaimed female murder victims and fashioned it into six hair extensions. During a live performance, one extension was sewn into Galindo’s hair while five women volunteers received the others. For more than 36 hours, these six women continued their daily lives while symbolically extending the lives of the unknown victims by wearing their hair—organic matter containing each deceased individual’s DNA.

Bibliography

Newman, Lia, et. al. Regina José Galindo: Bearing Witness/Dar testimonio. Davidson, North Carolina: Van Every/Smith Galleries, Davidson College, 2015.

Van Every/Smith Galleries Blog: PROFS TALK ART: DR. PASERO-O’MALLEY