Portrait of María Elena Ríos
Portrait of María Elena Ríos is mixed media artwork on Canson paper (290 gr) that portrays the activist and saxophonist María Elena Ríos, a survivor and leading voice against the brutal weaponization of acid as a tool of gender-based violence in Mexico. María Elena has spent recent years documenting violence against women and seeking justice for survivors. She is herself a survivor of an acid attack perpetrated by her ex-partner when she manifested her desires of playing the saxophone and pursuing a career in Music – a case that brought national attention to the crisis of violence against women, often perpetrated with readily available, everyday substances transformed into weapons.
In response to this egregious act of violence, María Elena became a leading voice in the fight for legal reform, playing a key role in the creation and promotion of Ley Malena. This landmark legislation directly addresses the destructive power of such attacks, classifying acid attacks as a specific form of gender-based violence and imposing harsher penalties on perpetrators. Through her unwavering advocacy, María Elena continues to push for systemic change and greater protection for women in Mexico, representing a powerful resistance against violence and a pursuit of justice.
I had the honour of interviewing María Elena, and created this portrait as a tribute to her with the intention of sharing her narrative beyond national borders, aiming to contribute to a global dialogue that rejects violence and embraces a world built on safety, justice, and peace.
Marcela Perrusquia
Marcela Perrusquia
Visual artist and educator
Artist in residence at the TreeHouse,NDSM
Studio: 57 C-4, T.T: Neveritaweg 55-57, 1033 WB, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: www.marcelaperrusquia.com
