Retablo de una madre
Retablo de una madre
Paola Chávez Dueñas
Watercolor and colored pencil on card stock
When I became a mother, I felt that my identity did not disappear, but it did transform. I was still myself, with my own fears, desires, and memories, while at the same time becoming a refuge for another person.
I chose the form of the Ayacucho retablo because it is an object created to hold and tell stories. In this work, the woman's body becomes that protective space, and the child inhabits her interior as if finding a first home there.
Retablo de una madre represents for me this duality of motherhood: remaining oneself while also becoming shelter, support, and home for another human being.
Height: 15 in
Width: 12 in
Depth: 1 in
Artist Bio:
Paola Chavez Dueñas is a Peruvian artist based in New Jersey who finds inspiration in childhood memories, Andean traditions, motherhood, and the experience of living away from home. Her work explores identity, cultural roots, feminine strength, tradition, and memory through colorful, narrative paintings that reinterpret elements of Peruvian culture in a personal and contemporary way. Find more of Paola’s work on Instagram at @pao_chavdu.
Artist Identifiers:
Immigrant to U.S., Woman-Owned
