Unruly by Ana María Buitrón

Marielisa...his mane I get lost in my herd

Marielisa's testimony: My hair is my identity, with my hair I am always at peace, it gives me joy, this long hair is a symbol of freedom, of empowerment, I feel like I am a horse, I feel that with this mane I get lost in my herd

Desatadas, women’s identity and their hair

This project tells stories about women, through portraits and statements. It shows how social and ethnic identities and emotions can be reflected through the aesthetics of women’s hair. Furthermore, it explores how this identity has been repressed throughout history as a consequence of personal experiences and social fears.

The project began as a personal search of who I am in the society where I grew up in. I became a part of many women’s lives by using their hair as a tool to tell their stories. It is powerful to talk about femininity and the search for an identity. Woman’s hair is able to store moving stories of joy and frustration.

The society that we live in insensitively judges our bodies, our face, our hair. We can easily change our hair following our emotions, while our faces and bodies need surgeries to change. Thus, hair is an element that can make us feel secure and give us some control over our appearance. Hair has become a social discourse and very often a symbol of resistance.

Women want to share their story as a method of feminine empowerment, catharsis and healing.

Ecuador, 2018- 2019

For several years I felt trapp...ip, was to cut and dye my hair

For several years I felt trapped in an abusive relationship. My partner (at that time) always told me that he loved my long, black hair. One day, driven by jealousy, he lost control and grabbed me by the hair, wrapped it around his hand and dragged me through a dark street where he almost beat me to death.
The first thing I did after walking away from that relationship, was to cut and dye my hair

Adela’s testimony: &...re I could even speak properly

Adela’s testimony: My mom used to style my hair with a tight ponytail, it even hurt my scalp a bit. When I started to paint and let my emotions out, I noticed that my characters were women with their hair down. I always told my mom: “I want my heh (hair) down,” even when I was little, before I could even speak properly

Ninari's test...ent, as when I was in her womb

Ninari's testimony: Hair is a historic memory. When I was a little girl my mother used to comb my brother’s, my father’s and my hair. Hair connects me to the meaning of being an indigenous woman. When my mother comb my hair I feel safe and confident, as when I was in her womb

Desirée's t...hat my head shows now: freedom

Desirée's testimony: When I was a little girl, I was taught to wear my hair up, tight and intact: repressed. The years, the falls, have also taught me to break patterns, the status quo… and this is what my head shows now: freedom

Natalia is always trying to un... and look at the outside world

Natalia is always trying to understand how the mind works. She has two pet guinea pigs, and she believes that by understanding them she will better understand the human mind. Not too long ago, a friend offered to braid her hair in cornrows. At the moment, Natalia was depressed and she only wanted to hide. This look made Natalia abandon her self confinement and empowered her, because when she looked in the mirror, she thought she had to go and look at the outside world

Ana María Buitrón

Also by Ana María Buitrón —

An army of women saving the moorlands

Women who beat the desert

Education through WhatsAPP

Seed Guardians

Guerreras de la Pachamama

Ana Marí­a Buitrón