Circe Irasema, a talented artist based in Mexico City, views painting as a reflection of time. She contemplates the male-dominated narrative of Western art history and how it impacts the technical and material aspects of artworks. By preserving pieces created within this framework, Irasema acknowledges the significance of retaining their inherent symbolism.
In a bold departure from traditional methods, the artist embraces an unconventional and feminized medium. Utilizing vibrant eyeshadow cakes, powder blushes, and long acrylic nails, Irasema crafts pieces that present an alternative narrative of painting. Her work delves into intimate and hidden stories surrounding the body, femininity, performance, metamorphosis, fragility, domesticity, the gaze, and beauty.
Blending cosmetics and adornments with traditional materials like gouache and acrylic paint, Irasema produces striking anatomical models and abstract wooden pieces enriched with eyeshadows. These mixed-media creations, resembling paintings from a distance, fuse a classic art form with a longstanding mode of self-expression and beautification.
The delicate nature of powder compacts, evident in the fragility of shattered eyeshadow palettes, symbolizes the care and attention required in handling them—an aspect that holds deeper meaning for the artist. Irasema emphasizes a popular perspective that connects to everyday life, diverging from academic norms while upholding a link to emotional education. In a departure from the historical perception of makeup and fashion as superficial and trivial, Irasema challenges these notions through her innovative approach.
Many of Irasema’s works are part of her “Cosmic Painting” series, drawing a parallel between cosmetics and the cosmos. The term “cosmic,” derived from the Greek word for “order,” conveys a sense of harmony and beauty. This concept underpins the canon of beauty rooted in geometry, a fundamental principle in painting since the Renaissance. Through her artwork, Irasema aims to redefine this pictorial notion by incorporating makeup compact powder.
Currently, Irasema is gearing up for a solo exhibition at the Carrillo Gil Art Museum and preparing works for Art Basel Miami. To stay updated on her latest creations, follow her on Instagram.
The visually captivating images accompanying this article showcase Irasema’s unique artistic vision, blending traditional painting techniques with unconventional materials to create a thought-provoking and visually stunning body of work.
