Artists: Lisbeth Villalpando, María Teresa Vázquez, Amy Vilayvanh

Year: 2024

Medium: Cyanotype chemical and pre-treated fabric

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Artist Statement:

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This collaborative artwork was created to capture the poignant transition from girlhood to womanhood, evoking a sense of bittersweet nostalgia for women who experience it. As we journey through adulthood, we often find ourselves reflecting on the simplicity and innocence of childhood, a time when our biggest concerns revolved around toys, playdates, our favorite snacks, and dress-up games. There was a certain magic in those moments—times when we would dream of growing up, eager to wear makeup or try on heels, imagining what it would feel like to step into the world of adults.

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However, as we grow older, the days of carefree play and simple joys fade, replaced by the complexities of adult life. Yet, despite these changes, we remain fundamentally the same person, carrying with us echoes of our younger selves. In this piece, we aimed to juxtapose the innocence of girlhood with the sophistication of womanhood, using carefully selected objects to represent each stage of life. On the girlhood side, we included playful items such as a toy purse, a teddy bear, a large bow, heart-shaped Cheerios, candy, a flower pen, a jump rope, and Barbies—symbols of youth, imagination, and innocence. On the womanhood side, we introduced items that reflect the modern adult experience, such as makeup, hairbrushes, a hair dryer, heels, jewelry, a purse, keys, headphones, wine glasses, a digital camera, and perfume—symbols of self-expression, responsibility, and maturity.

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To visually connect these two stages and illustrate that the girl and the woman are one and the same, we drew inspiration from Michelangelo’s iconic painting The Creation of Adam. In our piece, the girl and the woman extend their hands toward one another, their fingers almost touching, symbolizing the continuity between these phases of life. A shoelace—delicate yet unbroken—connects them, serving as a visual metaphor for the thread that ties our childhood selves to our adult identities.

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Through this work, we aim to inspire reflection and recognition in women of all ages, inviting them to honor both the girl they once were and the woman they have become, acknowledging that the essence of who we are remains with us throughout the entirety of our lives.

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