For Hispanic Heritage Month I interviewed Guatemalen artist Jessica Lagunas. Her work explores women’s obsession with body image, beauty and sexuality.

“Beauty routines of embellishment have been incorporated in our daily lives in such a way that we hardly notice nor question them anymore. In the name of beauty most women will put on makeup, do their hair and nails, depilate, diet, fix their noses and breasts. Although few women will reach society’s beauty ideals, many will sculpt their bodies as needed.

In some video works I play along with women’s beauty rituals, performing them in exaggerated ways to reflect the pressures imposed by today’s society. The camera focuses on the part of the body where the action takes place: With repetitive gestures I apply makeup continuously for one or two hours, questioning our attraction to makeup and its power of seduction.” Jessica Lagunas

To read the interview, join Powerful Latinas. And here is a clip of Para Verte Mejor.