The artwork, entitled “Silueta Works in Iowa,” was created by artist Ana Mendieta between 1976 and 1978. It falls within the Feminist Art movement and is categorized under performance art. This series forms a part of Mendieta’s “Silueta” works, which incorporate her body or a representation of it within natural environments to explore themes of identity, belonging, and the relationship between the feminine and nature.
In this particular piece, Mendieta merges her practice with the natural landscape, utilizing organic materials such as earth, plants, and trees. The artwork captures a segment of the forest floor and a sturdy, ancient tree rising from the earth. Its rugged bark, intertwined branches, and roots exposed in the cliffside embody both strength and vulnerability. The blend of natural elements in the artwork evokes a deep sense of connection between the human form and the environment, reflecting Mendieta’s interest in the spiritual and physical grounding of human existence within nature.
