ENRIQUEZ

Professional Artist Susana Enriquez lives and works between Newcastle, Australia and Mexico. Being a female artist.

As female artists, we go through the same and sometimes worst experiences, of racism, and discrimination, not only by the straight herd but also by male colleagues, art dealers, gallery directors, and anyone in a position of power. Throughout art history, we have seen examples of women__ as talented or more than their counterparts, male artists__ who have remained anonymous. Other artists had signed their works with a male name to be accepted.

In my experience at the music school, as a percussionist, the timpani parts in any piece would be reserved for a male, the second best part of the score, for another male; the female students would be left at the end to play the most insignificant instrument, the triangle or the tambourine, or none, just listening.

The discrimination and the punishment for a girl wanting to be an artist began at home and sometimes in schools. I have had both experiences. When I was six or seven, the teacher hit my hands with a wooden ruler because I was drawing in my notebook instead of listening to hear. Then as a teenager, my father punished me with no money for petrol or buses because I insisted on my music studies. I challenged him, and I found a job; I was sixteen. My father kept asking me if I was out of my mind. He kept telling me I would become a drug addict or a hippy if I continued. But I became resilient and more vital and was not persuaded to change my mind about being an artist.

At the art school, I was discriminated against by going to do plain air painting with the group because I was the only female, and the professor said he wouldn't take me because going out with a group of males was not suitable for a young lady. Also, a few times, my classmates suggested putting just my surname when submitting my work for the school exhibitions because if I put my female name, the chances of being selected would be zero.

As a practising artist, I love what I do and continue the path of creativity in the most sincere and honest possible way. For the sake of art, for being an artist and enjoying what I do, not for fame or money. Sometimes I have financial problems, but creativity and freedom have a price. Who cares what other people think or want from me?