Teresa Margolles' Blood-Infused Textiles Confront Gender Violence in Tuscany

At Tenuta dello Scompiglio in Vorno, Tuscany, Mexican artist Teresa Margolles (born 1963 in Sinaloa) presents "Sobre la sangre," an exhibition addressing femicide and gender violence. Central works include "Frazada (La Sombra)" (2016) and "Wila Patjaru/Sobre la sangre" (2017), traditional pre-Columbian textiles embroidered with symbols but stained with real blood obtained from a morgue—blood of ten Bolivian women killed by gender violence. On hot days, the smell of blood emanates from the pieces. The installation "Il Testimone" (2017), created for Lo Scompiglio, features audio testimonies of two murdered Mexican transsexuals, alongside large-format photographic portraits. The exhibition lacks institutional support despite its civil significance. A strong contrast emerges between the beauty of ancient craft and the brutality of contemporary violence.