“VIVAS is a series of portraits of indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and peasant female social leaders/activists that celebrates their resilience and inspiring stories; these unseen snapshots in time, to help the world understand and empathize with the struggles women leaders face in [Colombia]. VIVAS seeks to give visibility to each protagonist’s story from a dignifying and intimate perspective.”
MANUELA LARA
Manuela Lara
CLARENA LA GUAJIRA, COLOMBIA
Van Dyke Brown photography printed on jute and divi divi handcraft paper. Intervened with drawing, natural pigments and oil painting.
39.3 x 27.5” /100 x 70 cm, 2021
Manuela Lara
YOLANDA BUENAVENTURA, COLOMBIA
Van Dyke Brown photography printed on plantation, chontadura, and damagua handcraft paper. Intervened with drawing natural pigments, and oil painting.
39.3 x 27.5”/100 x 70 cm, 2019
The diversity of leaders showcased in the VIVAS series speaks to the diverse ways in which leadership manifests itself. From 17 to 80 years of age, the VIVAS show who they are and we in turn are privileged to be given a small insight into what it is to be feminine.
Manuela Lara
SUSANA SUTATAUSA
Van Dyke Brown photograph printed on corn, sheep wool, and jute handcraft paper. Intervened with drawing, natural pigments, and oil painting.
39.3 x27.4”/ 100 x 70 cm, 2021
Manuela Lara
KATHERIN LA GUAJIRA, COLOMBIA
Van Dyke Brown photography printed on jute and cotton handcraft paper. Intervened with drawing, natural pigments, and oil painting.
39.3 x 27.4”/ 100 x 70 cm, 2019
Manuela Lara
LAURA GUAJIRA
Van Dyke Brown photograph printed on jute and divi divi handcraft paper. Intervened with drawing, natural pigments, and oil painting.
39.3 x 27.5”/ 100 x 70 cm, 2021
Engaging novel, and ancient techniques that involved paper marking, antique photography, painting, and collaboration the VIVAS layered presence reflect the layers of complex lives, lived in complex settings that bring positive change to community and society.