Container #5

Name/Title

Container #5

Entry/Object ID

2022.20

Description

Photograph of a figure clad in a tropical plant patterned spandex suit with hands on thighs leaning forward against a background of overgrown plants and trees.

Context

In Containers, performers—all Dominican women, including Joiri Minaya herself—wear floral-patterned, skin-tight bodysuits covering their bodies and faces, except for their eyes, which stare directly at the viewer. Minaya sewed the garments in a way that purposefully restricted and guided the models’ poses, which were based on the images found when searching the term “dominican women” on the web. Containers reminds us of the ways in which patterns allow the viewer to subconsciously sort, stereotype, and categorize. But these subconscious decisions are made visible only through contrast or disruption. Here the performers remain anonymous in the photographs, but take breaks in the video and are allowed to get comfortable outside of their bodysuits. In this way, Minaya exploits the rift between a woman’s individual reality and her socially-perceived self—the women in her work exceed and refuse stereotypical patterns.

Acquisition

Accession

2022.19-20

Source or Donor

Joiri Minaya

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Credit Line

Courtesy of the artist

Made/Created

Artist

Joiri Minaya

Date made

2020

Edition

Edition

2

Edition Size

5

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Signed and dated "Joiri Minaya 2020" in ink on bottom right verso. Titled "Container #5" and edition 2/5 on ink on bottom verso.

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Sheet

Height

44 in

Dimension Description

Image

Height

36-5/16 in

Width

24-1/4 in