Dalia Calder¨®n

Artist statement

My work explores the representation of women within Nicaraguan cultural myths and legends, focusing on how these stories reflect and shape female identity through themes of loss, power, and transformation. Using acrylic paint, I reinterpret La Mocuana, La Novia de Tola, and La Taconuda as visual narratives that connect ancestral storytelling with personal memory. Each legend embodies a psychological space where women confront betrayal, grief, or desire, yet transcend them through resilience and self-redefinition. In La Mocuana, betrayal becomes a form of protection; in La Novia de Tola, eternal waiting turns into a reflection on grief and persistence; and in La Taconuda, sensuality evolves into a statement of autonomy and power. These figures, though born from myth, become portraits of the women in my own family, those who have endured, warned, and transformed within the cultural and emotional landscape of Nicaragua.

Through this series, I reflect on how myths still shape the way we see women, love, and loss. My process involves layering paint to build both texture and emotion. Those elements evoke memory and myth simultaneously. The paintings aim to shift these legendary women from fear and superstition, reframing them as complex, dignified presences that speak to generational strength. Ultimately, this body of work reflects my ongoing dialogue with cultural heritage and feminine resilience. It shows how art and storytelling allow me to carry forward the strength, the spirit of the women, and the surrounding myths that shaped my world.