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- Untitled #1 from the series “She”
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- Untitled #2 from the series “She”
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- Untitled #3 from the series “She”
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- Untitled #4 from the series “She”
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- Untitled #5 from the series “She”
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- Untitled #6 from the series “She”
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- Untitled #7 from the series “She”
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- Untitled #8 from the series “She”
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- Untitled #9 from the series “She”
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- Untitled #10 from the series “She”
Claudia Ruiz-Gustafson
She
The inspiration for She came from a poem from the Nag Hammadi Scriptures titled Thunder, Perfect Mind. In my work, I coupled images with stanzas from this poem. The woman and the objects in these images represent the goddess and the sacred feminine reclaiming her place in the world. Through this series, I aim to channel the need to restore the balance between masculine and feminine principles in our society and within ourselves.
This poem along with many other ancient manuscripts was found in a cave in Egypt in 1945 and was probably written around the 1st century. It was only recently made available to the general public.
Unlike the rest of the treatises, Thunder, Perfect Mind is spoken in the voice of a feminine divine power and deals with the endless aspects of the female psyche and the goddess. The author of this poem is unknown but some scholars believe it belonged to an early Gnostic church where gender roles were egalitarian.
Artist Bio
Originally from the town of Barranco in Lima, Perú, Claudia Ruiz-Gustafson is a fine art photographer based in Massachusetts. Her work is mainly autobiographical and self-reflective; each image relies on visual codes and symbolism often portraying themes of identity, memory, dreams and the sacred feminine. She regards image making as a powerful medium for exploring and revealing her inner world.
Claudia studied Communications at Universidad de Lima, and Professional Photography at Kodak Interamericana de Perú where she learned alternative processes. In Lima, she worked as a freelance photographer for a local cultural magazine and a regional newspaper.
After moving to Massachusetts in 2000 and studying art and photography in several local institutions, Claudia launched her own commercial portrait business in the Boston area in 2005.
Her fine art work is continually exhibited in museums and galleries across New England, including the Griffin Museum of Photography, Danforth Art Museum, Sohn Fine Art Gallery, Fountain Street Gallery and the Cambridge Art Association Galleries.
Contact Claudia Ruiz-Gustafson