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1	Beyond the Threshold: Allusions to the Òrìsà in Ana Mendieta's Silueta Series January, LaTricia M. 01 January 2007 (has links) The Cuban-born artist Ana Mendieta (1948-1985) created the Silueta Series during the 1970s and 80s. It consists of earth-body works in situ featuring the silhouette of the artist's body fashioned from mud, plants, rocks, gunpowder and other materials. Underlying the creation of the Silueta Series is Mendieta's belief that the elements are sentient and powerful beings. This perception is particularly strong in the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria, a creolized form of the Òrìsà tradition of the Yoruba of West Africa introduced to the Americas during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. While scholars have noted Mendieta's incorporation of Santeria in her art, a thorough analysis of the iconographical references to the deities have yet to be explored. This thesis aims to provide such an analysis of Mendieta's works; thus enriching the current discourse on the Silueta Series. earth-body works earthworks Viennese Actionism Hans Breder Liminal Intermedia Feminist Art Contemporary Art Great Goddess Neo-paganism Afro-Cuban Yoruba deities Cuba Santeria Yoruba iconography Arts and Humanities