Gloria Segura

GLORIA SEGURA, AN ARTIST OF SAINTS

 A few years ago, Gloria Segura, a student of Fine Arts at Miguel Hernández University, had a great and creative idea of illustrating a magnificent work with a calendar of Saints dedicated to all the teachers of the Faculty at that time. One by one, we were dressed up by an artistic collective of students, “Casa Pam” in the clothes that most closely resembled the model of the saint she considered. The delicate, subtle, daring, and extraordinarily new and, to a certain extent, provocative work was a series of great intuitive talent and psychological reflection. The final result was a magnificent formal and compositional outcome.

That initiation to the auric analysis of beings led her to develop possibly her great artistic exercise: "El retablo de Santa Georgina". Every self-respecting artist must begin the path of the step forward, of the expressive modification, from a place of intuition and then adapt the rational analysis and the applicable theory. In addition, the supreme task of the arts is to advance, evolve, and risk. Therefore, one may ask: from where did Gloria Segura begin this journey?

Gloria Segura started from her place as a woman. The demand and struggle of women for equality have increased and become present in the majority of the social spheres today. More than fifteen years ago, though, when Gloria started, the cry and the claim were not so clamorous; which is a determining factor in understanding the stubbornness of this artist in her struggle for recognition.

The altarpiece consists of 13 photographic pieces: one in the center, six images on each side, and another of Saint Georgina next to them. She says this work intends to "educate the spectator", a function, she explains, fulfilled by Gothic altarpieces, which followed the doctrines of the saints.

By creating an imaginary female saint, Gloria Segura seeks to reclaim the participation of women in the festivities of Alcoi “Moros y Cristianos”, dedicated to saint Saint George, the patron of the city. Her claim is based on irony, provocation, and backtrack; the figure of Saint Georgina is incarnated in a man since it is the man who has always occupied this place. A revelation that is not only circumscribed to the struggle for women's equality in these festivities but that transcends all areas of community participation.

Focusing on this work, in a way, sums up the transgressive commitment of this artist from Alcoi. From her beginnings, Gloria Segura has shown to be a transgressive artist. Her artwork immerses into most of the artistic languages of art and she has participated on numerous occasions in performance, action, and body art that is daring, troublemaker, and defiant. Needless to say, also paintings, sculpture, and design until focus on photography, but always keeping the rebellious side of the contents. A continuous work where the taste for elaboration, neatness, and depth is a sign of identity and presentation, in addition to the vindictive effort and incitement. A combative and fighting woman who never lacks a smile or a biting smile. An artist to be reckoned with. An unlimited world.