Audio description of ‘Mujer Poderosa’ by Natalie Estay

Artist’s statement

Mujer Poderosa (Powerful woman) came to (or triggered something in) me from a recent Netflix binge on The Vampire Diaries, an early 2000s teenage bloodlust English-language telenovela. I got more out of it than expected – personal evaluation and reflection, with its strong and diverse female leads that made me question and touch various issues on all different levels, but all leading back to the hidden meaning of becoming a female vampire:

Transition, power and resilience of women.

And in my case, women of colour.

‘Woman of colour’ is a term that I wasn’t familiar with until a few years back, a term that helped me define and also express myself in a positive light without having to go into too much detail if I didn’t want to, a term that would help me further connect with my ancestry especially my mother’s family.

“Una mujer es la historia de su pueblo y de su raza. Y es la historia de sus raíces y de su origen, de cada mujer que fue alimentada por la anterior, para que ella naciera: una mujer es la historia de su sangre. Pero también es la historia de una conciencia y de sus luchas interiores. También una mujer es la historia de su utopía.” — Marcela Serrano

My artwork is a mixture of my photography and mark making which was then digitally manipulated.

The photo was taken in Santiago de Chile during the march for the Mapuche (Indigenous) struggle that happens annually in October.

Natalie Estay Valenzuela is an Australian/Chilean art, design and textile maker currently based in Melbourne. She graduated in Fashion & Textile design at Central Tafe, Perth and Bachelor of Arts in Textile Design at RMIT, Melbourne.

Her art practice includes mark making, collage, upcycling clothing, photography and making tote bags from a mix of recycled and organic fabrics (low wastage where possible). Passionate about many lovely things and places, Natalie is also an advocate of environmental sustainability, slow design, and the preservation and sustainability of Indigenous culture, art and textiles.

Instagram: @natalieestayvalenzuela