By Kevin Lebron
On Saturday, September 14, I approached artist Melanie Rodríguez Rosado via Instagram for an interview. The interview was carried out via text messages. @Melmicherr is a makeup artist who participated in the protests that took place in July, 2019 in response to the scandal involving ex-governor Ricardo Rossello. Rodriguez Rosado is the artist behind the young feminist activist group known as “#hijasdelacrisis.” She comes from a family of doctors who wanted her to continue that line of work. But instead, she pursued her childhood dream: to become an artist. She studied in the School of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico.
What was your inspiration and why did you utilize body painting as a way of protest?
I was inspired to use my art because is the way that I best express what I feel. I dedicate myself to do art in the human body, so what better way to express what I feel than this way? I wanted it to be something that everyone could identify themselves, to portray the feeling of the island in one body.
What message you wanted to express the government of the island?
Through this piece, I wanted to express the collective anger of Puerto Rico. I painted the flag burning in flames. The barbed wires with adhesive tape in the mouth, represent the oppression of the people. The tears represent mourning and pain. To finish, on the back of the girl I wrote the question, “What would you say to Ricardo?,” for everyone who would want to take out their anger by writing on it.
How was your experience being part of the protest on the island?
My experience was a gratifying one. I did it genuinely for my love of art and because I wanted to convey my message in a different manner. Never would I imagined that it was going to cause such a big impact for so many people, just thinking about it makes my skin bristle.
Did you experience any problem for being part of said protest?
I was confronted by people who did not understand the meaning of my message and took it the wrong way. Many people criticized me, made fun of me, took pictures of us and posted them online mocking us. But even so I emphasized in completing my objective.
What impact or benefit had for your career exposing your art during the protest?
It benefits me because I gained the respect of everyone that knows me, does who doesn’t, found me for what I did. They consider it as a brave act that marked the history of the island. Professionally it harmed me because as a makeup artist, I want to collaborate with big makeup brands, but those generally don’t like politics topics. After seeing that I was deeply involved in the protest, they prefer to not incorporate me in their events to avoid incorporating indirectly with the situation.
"I received an extremely positive feedback in my pictures, a thousand more times than I imagined. It was amazing, many people throughout the world shared my pictures, thank me and created art inspired in mine. It has been without a doubt my biggest accomplishment in my life and my career." she replied when asking about the feedback received in her pictures.
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