Inspired by the All Male Panel archive, a simple but powerful question returned to the center of the conversation: Where are the women? This time, it was explored through artistic creation.
At an outdoor gathering at the Centro Cultural de España on September 25, art, conversation, and music came together to spark debate and celebrate women’s legacies, stories, and voices in culture, activism, and the arts.
From archive to memory
The exhibition grew out of the All Male Panel project, a collaborative archive documenting more than 1,500 panels, seminars, and public events featuring men in Paraguay since 2017 where women are absent.
Through art, the archive makes visible a pattern that has become so familiar it can be hard to question.
The exhibition features:
- Weaving Absence, by Paz Moreno.
- Re; In-visibles, by Betania Ruttia.
- The Panel Is on the Other Side, by Riccardo Castellani.
- A photographic collage by Karen Vera.
- The Wave, featuring photographs from the All Male Panel archive, by Horacio Oteiza.
Together, these works invite us to consider what is missing, who is left out, and the structures that sustain those absences.
Ten women, ten voices and legacies
At the opening, we paid tribute to ten women whose work and lives are connected to art, culture, education, the defense of rights, and activism.
The tribute began with Line Bareiro, honored posthumously. Her work left a profound mark on the defense of women’s rights and the pursuit of a more equal society.
We also celebrated Rocío Robledo for her contribution to music; Selva Fox for her work in the performing arts; and Lilian Soto for her activism and advocacy for rights.
We recognized Clyde Soto’s body of work, which has been central to feminist debate and to building knowledge around gender and rights.
From the LGBTQI+ rights movement, we honored Yren Rotela and Rosa Posa for their years of struggle to expand rights and challenge who gets represented.
We also paid tribute to Ana Romero for her work in cultural management and her commitment to Indigenous peoples; feminist researcher Montserrat Fois; and Regina Rivas for her work in illustration.
A courtyard where we could come together
The opening took place outdoors in the courtyard of the Centro Cultural de España—and perhaps no setting could have been more fitting. For a few hours, it became a place where conversation mingled with music, and where the stories of these women could meet their audience.
Instead of enclosed walls, we had the sky above us. And instead of the hush of a traditional gallery, there was room for conversation, connection, and song.
One particularly special moment came with a musical performance by Bianca Orqueda, a Nivaclé singer. Her music brought another dimension to the celebration: the chance to connect through music and through the many ways women tell and pass on their stories.
A space to recognize and celebrate
The exhibition Where Are the Women? remains an invitation to look, ask questions, and talk about who occupies our public, cultural, and decision-making spaces. Above all, it offers a chance to pause and recognize those who are already there—creating, organizing, and making change.
The exhibition will remain open to the public through October 24 at the Biblioteca Las Sinsombrero, Centro Cultural de España (CCE). Come be part of the conversation and spend time with the work.
Credits
Artists:
- María Paz Moreno Re.
- Riccardo Castellani.
- Betania Ruttia.
- Tutor: Claudia Casarino.
- Curator: Jazmín Ruiz Díaz.
- Collage: Karen Vera.
- Artistic direction of the collage: Romina Aquino González.
- General Director: Maricarmen Sequera.
- Project Coordinator: Jazmín Ruiz Díaz.
- General Assistant: Priscila Manfredi.
- Communication: Camila Rolón.
- Production: Ann Morínigo.