“Fuerza” meaning “force” in Spanish; in this case, describes the empowerment and ambition of female-identified artists. This collection of work expresses several ways that women are celebrated through painting. Vivian and Jacqueline both speak on relevant topics regarding femininity, yet do so in opposing ways.
Although both artists use dynamic color palettes, Vivian uses these palettes to create sensuous abstractions emphasizing the female form through draped bodies, while Jacqueline uses geometric patterns in conjunction with the representational components of her work to bring attention to women within the Chicano world of lowriding. Because lowriding is a predominantly male subculture, women in this scene are defying traditional gender stereotypes by denying the sexual appeal attached to women. Jacqueline references the murals seen in latinx communities which focus on religion and political issues to comment on how women are seen as divine but juxtaposes it by using it as a feminist statement. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Vivian’s work is meant to embrace these characteristics that have been deemed “feminine”, such as using variations of pink in her palettes, as well as, the inclusion of organic flowing shapes. She uses fabrics and textiles as the subject of her work because they have used to either accentuate or conceal the physical attributes of the female form.
Upon observing these visual systems, the viewer is asked to think about the relationship between changing structures and stimulating sensuality. Ultimately both artists create visually different work ranging from geometric and representation to organic and intuitive, yet both use similar color schemes. Overall this creates visual comparisons allowing the viewers to switch between artwork without drastic disruption.