By Kathy Bruce
About Kathy Bruce and the collages collection: The most significant inspiration and source of influence on my work comes from the type of Surrealism related to botanical plant imagery and women found in Latin American Art, namely the Cuzco School of Spanish-Peruvian Colonial Art and Mexican-Spanish Colonial religious art. To me, these schools of painting are the richest in Surrealist imagery in the sense that they miraculously subvert reality and Nature into unearthly transformations. Many of my sculptures and collages explore archetypal female forms inspired by the Peruvian saints, historical figures and 16th century Tapadas* overlaid on a colonial landscape. “Tapadas” was the name designated to Limeña women during the Viceroyalty of Peru and the early years of the Republic who wore shawls completely covering their body except for one eye. I find both the notion and the surreal image intriguing. The fashion was eventually outlawed by the Spanish authorities because it had a subversive effect on its intention—to protect and hide women’s bodies. However, the incognito coverings gave women the license to express themselves freely in society thus leading to flirtatious promiscuity. Thus, in this way, the Tapadas took control by reversing the notion of the male gaze/male surveillance of their bodies.