They are part of the Monarch Butterfly artistic project that carries the message of resisting and reinventing itself
During the long days of isolation by COVID-19, photographer and artist Olivia Barrionuevo was inspired to create a collection mask edition as part of her art project La Mariposa Monarca, in order to give a message from strength and hope amidst the pandemic.
“Like monarch butterflies, we have the ability to be reborn and reinvent ourselves despite traumatic events and outcomes. We are heroic souls, we are the metaphor of our existence, "says Olivia.
These pieces of art in the form of paper masks, have a monarch butterfly made in screen printing on the front; and they are painted in acrylic, one by one by the artist herself.
"I added the letters L.A., the initials of Los Angeles, because this project was born in this city, where I live."
Each mask is delivered in an envelope with a poem written and signed by Barrionuevo.
Born in Sonora, Mexico, the daughter of a Mexican mother and a Peruvian father, with more than 27 years as a photographer and artist, she says that the pandemic has given us the opportunity to reevaluate how we were before in society.
"I thought about making a mask with the image of the monarch butterfly, a fragile and vulnerable insect, but at the same time with a strong spirit because it can travel and survive like humans and immigrants ”.
Although some people recommended making them out of cloth, Olivia leaned for the paper masks. "The message was not to wash and put or use as a way of protection, but to keep them as a memory of the historical moment we are going through, since Our generation had not lived an experience like this firsthand. It has been heartbreaking. ”
Olivia is confident that she has great faith that this traumatic time will not be forgotten. "Not to torture us but to learn to be different as human beings, to become aware and take responsibility ”.
On a personal level, this artist of the lens has been hit by the coronavirus, since at least three members of her family, two sisters and a nephew contracted the virus in Arizona.
"We really must follow the regulation of putting on a mask to protect our lives, and not visit people even if it is their birthday. By wanting to do a good deed, we infect others, "he says.
In 2015, when Trump's electoral campaign for the United States presidency began, Olivia created the Monarch Butterfly project that was first presented at the 15th Avenue Gallery and the Neutral Museum in Los Angeles. Is about a photographic art installation that captures images of immigrants, surrounded by monarch butterflies.
People have responded with thoughts and poems that Barrionuevo has uploaded to his website.
The Monarch Project has traveled to the state of Arizona and Mexico. He planned to appear during the spring in Germany, but the health contingency prevented him.
In five years, This original artistic proposal has managed to collect 450 portraits of immigrants.
“Since its inception, the Monarch Project has defended migration, human rights and climate change, now in this COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that we rethink our priorities, the way we consume, mobilize, our relationship with the environment and with each one of us ”, says Olivia in the poem she wrote on the occasion of her masks.
And he continues saying that the Monarch is a symbol of fragility, beauty and strength. “It is one of the most poetic images of self-renewal. With this pandemic, we are going to evolve to become a better version of ourselves, more aware and concerned about each other. A simple action, a simple event affects humanity, that affects us all together. ”
The artist sells her masks for $ 20, a price that includes shipping. If you are interested in buying one of his masks you can visit his site: OliviaBarrionuevo.com; Or, you can find it on Instagram under oliviabarrionuevo or Monarchproject.
The proceeds from the sale of the masks will be used to bring the Monarch Project to Germany when the pandemic ends.
