GUADINCHE

Guadinche Is a hybrid between the Virgin of Guadalupe and La Malinche, two female archetypes from Mexican culture that represent a dichotomy. For some, the Virgin of Guadalupe is a potent symbol that represents the mother of all Mexicans. For others, that original mother is La Malinche. She was a woman given to Cortés by the Aztecs as a gift. La Malinche became the interpreter between the Aztecs and Spaniards. She also gave birth to a son of Cortés. Some people use the word “malinchista” to refer to a traitor to their own people. Young women have traditionally grown up with this polarized view of the two opposing mother figures. “Guadinche” is an exercise that marries these two complexities into one female personality, and thus begins to reconcile the two polarities.