Cotzji
from the series The Making of the Mestizas, 2006
Verónica Riedel
Verónica Riedel (Guatemala, b. 1961). Cotzji from the series The Making of the Mestizas, 2006, Mixed media photo-collage. 42½ in. x 36¾ in. Robert Gumbiner Foundation Collection.
This work from the series The Making of the Mestizas by Verónica Riedel places indigenous women in a position of prestige, challenging the way these women were treated in Latin America during and after the Spanish conquest. A Mestiza is a woman of mixed indigenous and European descent and is one of many racial categories that were established in Latin America to create social, economic, and political hierarchies. These categories privileged people of European lineage and gave fewer rights to indigenous, African, and mixed-race people. Riedel uses portraiture, a genre of painting and photography once regarded only for the elite, to deliberately step away from the idea of these women as victims. She instead presents them as “queens”, celebrating their struggles and strengths.
About the Artist
Verónica Riedel is a director, producer, screenwriter, and multimedia artist. Her second feature film Gallo Gallina, has been selected by Malaga Festival Fund & Coproduction Event and recently was awarded by Ibermedia in Coproduction category and will be filmed soon. Her associates are La Casa de Producción (Ixcanul) and Betta Films. Gallo Gallina also has be selected by the Guatemalan government cinema fund. Riedel’s script received support on development by Sundance Institute and Oviedo’s University, Ibermedia, NALIP Media Market and by the FICCI Producer’s encounter, among others. In January 2017, Riedel produce the new reality show María Marin Live in Facebook. Also develop and direct 24 episodes of the series Strange Medicine for Fusion TV and Univision. Her narrative feature film and opera prima Capsules (2012) participated in more than 30 international film festivals: HBO NYILFF, LALIFF, SFFF, Guadalajara’s Film Festival, Trieste, Latin Film Festival of Chicago, among others; winning awards as: Gran Cine, Best Film, Best Editing and Best Art Direction.
Her video arts and photographs have been exhibited at Museums and International art fairs, receiving recognition. Mentor, coach and creator of workshops for several Universities. Her approach is about cinema, leadership, empowerment, creativity and art. Has a Bachelor on Communications and a specialization on cinema at Miami University and UCLA. Is coach of MMK Institute and study in the Anderson Arts Center in Colorado.