Artwork Description
Virgil Ortiz/ Jonathan Sanchez Noa – Tahu & Kata-yatz, Batey
Dimensions: 24.5 x 18.75 x 4″
Year: 2024
Medium: Virginia flue cured tobacco on handmade paper dyed with logwood, pulp silkscreen, handmade paper
Tahu, a leading character in Ortiz’s Pueblo Revolt 1680/2180 saga, reflects pueblo women’s strength, wisdom, and resilience. A young Tahu is challenged to an archery contest against a Castilian fighter. Unaware of Tahu’s extraordinary archery skills, she defeats him. Enraged by the defeat, the Castilian troops retaliate and viciously blind Tahu and all the young girls in the pueblo, using heated swords to pierce their eyes. She assembles an army of blinded female archers, and defeats the Castilians once and for all.