Naufus Ramirez-Figueroa
AT THE BASE OF HER SPINE
At The Base of Her Spine examined the construct of the Mongolian spot, an arbitrary socio-political marker of�indigeneity within Latin American society. In the performance I attempted to mark myself by tying a bundle of crushed blue corn to my lower back.� I slowly wet the bundle, which allowed it to seep and drip. A further action included writing a poem on the wall with the tip of my tongue, which was made purple by masticated corn. In the poem I made reference to the moment when my pediatrician refused to treat my younger sister after noticing the birthmark at the base of her spine. I finished the performance by untying the bundle and cleaning off the blue-red dye that in the end, did not mark me.
Open Space, Victoria, Canada
