Photographer Marisol Mendez shares the story behind her striking image of a woman holding a bull costume, part of her series Madre exploring womanhood. The picture, taken in 2019 in Cochabamba, Bolivia, was inspired by a dream of a half-woman, half-animal figure standing alone in a field.
Dreams and Inspirations
Mendez explains that the melody for Paul McCartney's Yesterday came to him in a dream, and she experienced something similar with this image. 'I had a dream about a half woman-half animal, standing alone in the middle of a field, with trees surrounding her,' she says.
Challenging Feminine Norms
The series Madre challenges traditional depictions of womanhood in Bolivia, where women are often portrayed in a feminine way. Mendez notes that women displaying masculine traits are frequently labelled as lesbians, lacking nuance. She herself dressed in men's clothes at age 14, not due to gender identity but as self-expression. Her therapist acknowledged her masculine traits like ambition and competitiveness, which she embraces.
The Symbolism of the Bull
The bull costume is worn by dancers of the waka tokori, a Bolivian dance mimicking colonial bullfighting. Unlike Spanish bullfighting, Bolivian participants only taunt the bull. The bull and bullfighter symbolize masculinity. Mendez wanted to portray a woman comfortable with her masculine energy.
Nudity as Rebellion
Mendez incorporates nudity in her portraits, inspired by photographer Ryan McGinley, whose non-sexual nudes felt rebellious. 'Nudity is always sexualised in Bolivia,' she says. 'Being naked is being oneself. It doesn't have to be sexual.'
The Subject: Marta Salinas
The woman in the photo is Marta Salinas, a Bolivian theatre actor living in Argentina. Mendez met her after seeing her perform and felt her power and control over her body. Before shooting, Mendez gets to know her subjects, asking whether they identify more with Mary Magdalene or the Virgin Mary. Salinas chose Mary Magdalene.
A Family Affair
Mendez's mother played a key role in the project, serving as chauffeur and collaborator. She suggested the field location, remembering a friend who grows fruit and keeps bees outside the city. Mendez describes the process as easy, even when sessions yielded no usable photos.
Performance and Power
'Marta was incredible,' Mendez says. 'She uses her body as a tool, and her body suits this power. She stands with such commitment.' The image won Mendez the Saltzman-Leibovitz prize this year.
A selection of works by nominated artists will be at Photo London, Olympia, until 17 May.
