On September 8th, Lalettura’s Corriere Art Collection presents a cover that explores the theme of motherhood, intertwining it with the strength and courage required in the fight for equality — "La Pantera Mami" by Alejandra Varela Perera.
For years, Mexico City-born artist Alejandra Varela Perera has been intertwining her deep-rooted Mexican cultural symbols with the dynamic urban landscapes of Milan, infusing this collectable edition with a rich narrative depth: her artworks include paintings, sculptures, and metal etchings, which tell stories of her life lived between these two worlds. In this way, the cover acts as a bridge to reflect on the dual nature of identity and belonging, resonating with the shared experiences of diaspora communities.
The physical issue will be available at newsstands nationwide beginning Sunday, September 8th. Following closely, the edition including the collectible digital version of the cover — complete with a digital certificate of authenticity upon redemption — will be released on Tuesday, September 10th, followed by her solo exhibition in Milan at Galleria Patricia Armocida: "No soy de aquí, ni soy de allá" .
Alejandra Varela Perera:Bridging Cultures Through Art
Alejandra Varela Perera is a multidisciplinary artist born in 1995 in Mexico City and currently living and working between Milan and her hometown.
Trained at NABA, the New Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, Varela Perera began experimenting with new artistic techniques that would later define her distinctive style. Her work, which includes painting, sculpture, metal etchings, drawings, and amulets, often incorporates intricate designs and cultural motifs that bridge her dual experiences across continents.
No soy de aquí, ni soy de allá at Galleria Patricia Armocida
Curated by Paola Shiamtani, "No soy de aquí, ni soy de allá" marks Varela Perera's debut solo show in Italy, opening on September 12th, 2024, at Galleria Patricia Armocida. The exhibition showcases her latest and extensive body of work, featuring predominantly paintings alongside sculptures, intricate metal etchings, drawings, and amulets.
In her compositions, Varela Perera embraces folk motifs and ancient symbolism—such as sacred hearts, carved zigzags, and spirals—while subverting traditional conventions of portraiture to narrate stories that span Milan and Mexico City. Her canvases bear words that pose riddles, few scattered numbers, and subjects that resonate with celebrated themes of twentieth-century Mexican muralism. This style reflects on the representation of common people and everyday elements, challenging stereotypical definitions and visual vocabularies of authority.
Her figures, often solitary or in pairs and resembling forces in orbit, provide intimate glimpses into the artist's lived experiences and the duality of navigating between two conditions—reflecting both her personal relationships and the broader socio-political environment that links these seemingly distant contexts.
Ordinary imagery, such as casual clothing with logos, plants, silver jewelry, and gifted charms, adorns her pieces, subtly reframing one’s perception of the mundane by introducing surreal aspects into familiar scenes and circumstances, akin to the transformative nature of literary magical realism. The phrase “I am neither from here nor from there,” derived from a seventies song by Facundo Cabral, evokes a profound sense of nostalgia and hints at a state of in-betweenness, detachment, and deep longing in rich, saturated hues.
Through this exhibition, Varela Perera delves into the nuances of hybrid identities, exposing their vulnerabilities and sources of light and joy. This collection of instants, preserved in her artworks, becomes a heartfelt declaration of devotion to others, inviting viewers to explore the complex interplay of cultural and emotional landscapes.
Defining Motherhood: La Pantera Mami
In this edition of Corriere Art Collection, Alejandra Varela Perera presents "La Pantera Mami," a powerful portrait of Luisa Rodriguez Jiménez, a well-known Mexican activist for women's rights. Through the image of a pregnant Luisa, the artist explores the theme of motherhood, intertwining it with the strength and courage required in the fight for equality.
Gianluigi Colin - Art Director at Corriere della Sera - explains, “Being a mother is not a profession. It's not even a duty. It is simply one right among many," Oriana Fallaci reminded us. The young woman featured on our cover is Luisa Rodriguez Jiménez, known in Mexico as a political activist fighting for women's rights. The artist Alejandra Varela Perera (Mexico City, 1995) chose to portray the pregnant activist to capture her courage and determination, as if they were a reflection of the vital force that animates the painter herself. And here on our cover is that aura every woman emits when she is creating new life. Alejandra Varela Perera is an artist with a strong ethical tension at the boundary between painting and sculpture: in her latest works, she favors portraiture with paintings that evoke contemporary figuration yet are always imbued with ancient symbolism. Through her portraits, Alejandra Varela Perera tells stories of beloved individuals: from September 12, at the Patricia Armocida Gallery in Milan, her solo exhibition will be on display. Her paintings, powerful and full of enigmatic figures, prompt us to ask questions about ourselves: questions about the present and the challenges of living. But always with a steady gaze towards the hope of happiness.” The physical issue of this collectible edition will hit newsstands nationwide on Sunday, September 8th, with another version tied to the digital cover collectible—complete with a certificate of authenticity—set to follow on Tuesday, September 10th. Opening to the public on September 12th, Perera’s solo exhibition 'No soy de aquí' at the Patricia Armocida Gallery in Milan will delve deeper into themes of identity and societal challenges, further building on the discussions sparked by this cover.