“Martyr”

Date

July 8 – 29, 2023

Curated by

Rewell Altunaga

Gallery

Transborder Art Gallery at Governors Island

Location

New York, United States

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Curatorial Statement

Martyr by Naivy Pérez is a piercing critique of the cultural and religious narratives that have shaped perceptions of femininity, sacrifice, and female identity throughout history. Through a series of sex dolls dressed as brides, the artist deconstructs the notions of “gift” and “desired object,” presenting the dolls as inert figures, headless and devoid of identity.

The title, Martyr, resonates with multiple layers of meaning: from the religious tradition that links sacrifice to sanctity, to sociocultural narratives that assign women the roles of ultimate surrender and silent suffering. With sharp irony, the piece explores the figure of the woman as a martyr, both in patriarchal culture and in personal choices often influenced by male-imposed standards that women themselves perpetuate.

Arranged in a setting resembling a wedding ceremony, these hollow figures become a mirror of a society that, generation after generation, reduces women to their appearance and utility. By provocatively dressing the dolls as brides, in suggestive poses that emphasize their objectified nature, Pérez underscores the contradiction between marriage as the pinnacle of love and the reality of cultural expectations that perpetuate dehumanization.

In the background of the installation, a wooden crucifix ties this narrative to the religious roots of concepts like sacrifice and purity, alluding to a tradition that both idealizes and punishes female sexuality. Martyr is not merely a critique of machismo; it is also a call to reflect on how women participate in constructing these narratives.

With her characteristic critical tone and aesthetic precision, Pérez challenges the viewer to confront their complicity in these systems and to reflect on the role of women in a society that constantly negotiates between the sacred and the profane, the desired and the discarded.

Rewell Altunaga

New York, United States