La extraordinaria historia de Julia Pastrana

Julia Pastrana (1834-1860) was an Indigenous Cahita Mexican opera singer. Pastrana suffered a condition called hypertrichosis terminalis and hyperplasia gingival. Due to her appearance she was exploited and exhibited for over 150 years, during her lifetime and after her early death at the age of 26, in an embalmed state. After 10 years of working towards the repatriation of Julia Pastrana from Oslo to Mexico, I was successful. After her return to her homeland for a proper burial I felt it was important to develop a series of works: on paper, animation, performance, photographs, drawings, a book, and zines to shed light on the ways in which the systems that justified Julia Pastrana´s exploitation are still operating today. 

Zines. Created in collaboration with Erik Tlaseca.

How Can I Get To Know You? Zine 1, 2015. 20 pages. Ed. 350. Created in collaboration with Erik Tlaseca and Jesús Fajardo. 28 x 21.5 cm (11.02 x 8.64 inches) Risograph, printed at Cráter Invertido, México D.F

Eternity Zine 2, 2016. 22 pages including bonded double page with cut window. Ed. 489. Risograph, 28 x 21.5 cm (11.02 x 8.64 inches), printed at Cráter Invertido, México D.F.

Purgatory Zine 3, 2016. 22 pages including fold-out. Ed. 501. Risograph, 28 x 21.5 cm (11.02 x 8.64 inches), printed at Cráter Invertido, México D.F.

Women and Animals Zine 4.5, 2017. 22 pages. Ed. 250. Zine content developed during workshops at Columbia College Chicago, Prof. Melissa H. Potter. Final design in collaboration with Erik Tlaseca. Risograph, 28 x 21.5 cm (11.02 x 8.64 inches), printed at Cráter Invertido, México D.F.

The Beauty Issue Zine 4, 2017. 24 pages. Ed. 500. Risograph, 28 x 21.5 cm (11.02 x 8.64 inches), printed at Cráter Invertido, México D.F.

Hair Zine 5, 2018. 20 pages plus fold-out insert. Ed. 500. Risograph, 28 x 21.5 cm (11.02 x 8.64 inches), printed at Cráter Invertido, México D.F.

Julia Pastranatzin Oyah ce Cahita Cihuatzintli  Zine 6, 2019. 24 pages including 2 fold-out pages. Ed. 270. Risograph, 28 x 21.5 cm (11.02 x 8.64 inches), printed at Cráter Invertido, México D.F.

Amor es… forthcoming, 2021