Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons. It dates from 1999 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This print presents a nude torso, its back covered with a repetitive motif of eyes that appear to be tattooed onto the skin.
About this work
Overview
The work engages directly with the visual experience of the viewer, positioning the body as both object of observation and site of ornamental display.
This print presents a nude torso, its back covered with a repetitive motif of eyes that appear to be tattooed onto the skin. The image is rendered through layered digital processes, creating a surface that recalls both the iridescence of peacock feathers and the intimate markings of body art. The work engages directly with the visual experience of the viewer, positioning the body as both object of observation and site of ornamental display.
Subject & Meaning
The arrangement of eyes across the back evokes the notion of a perpetual external gaze, echoing scholarly ideas about the black experience of being constantly observed by others. At the same time, the decorative quality of the pattern suggests a celebratory adornment linked to Afro‑Cuban religious rituals, where the body serves as a canvas for spiritual and cultural expression.
Technique & Style
Campos‑Pons employs digital printing techniques to build multiple layers, producing a seamless, repetitive design that mimics tattoo work. The print exists in at least two color variations—one featuring brown eyes and another with blue—demonstrating the artist’s interest in how subtle shifts in hue can alter the work’s emotional resonance.
History & Provenance
Created by Maria Magdalena Campos‑Pons, a Cuban artist recognized for her exploration of African diaspora histories, the piece reflects her longstanding practice in printmaking. It was produced after she had already established a reputation for innovative approaches to the medium, integrating contemporary digital methods with traditional print processes.
Context
The work aligns with Campos‑Pons’s broader body of work that investigates Afro‑Cuban traditions, storytelling, and ritual. By juxtaposing motifs of surveillance with decorative symbolism, the print comments on the complex interplay between visibility, identity, and cultural heritage within the diaspora.
Artist & collection
Artist
María Magdalena Campos-Pons (born July 22, 1959) is a Cuban-born artist based in Nashville, Tennessee.
