Muñekas

by Belén Catalán and Catherine De Sa Quintaes

Sisterhood is a complex, fragile, and luminous bond, one of the most powerful connections two women can share. It is an act of care: we watch over one another, we recognize each other’s value, our labour, our brilliance, and the exhaustion we carry while moving through a patriarchal world. In the arts, women are too often overlooked and pushed to the margins; within Latin American cultures, this erasure can feel even more pronounced.

This project seeks to counter that disappearance. The photoshoot becomes a visual testament to the communities we build and the support we offer one another, an effort to maintain not just our artistic practices, but our presence, our visibility, and our voice. “Muñekas” is a reflection of our resilience, our tenderness, and the unspoken bonds that hold us together.

“Chismear” (gossip) emerges here as a practice of passing stories between generations of women, a subtle rebellion within patriarchal structures, grounded in gestures and shared practices that anchor relationships. Through the symbolic role of dolls (muñecas), folkloric objects, and childhood relics, the project reflects the feminine power embedded within Latin American culture.

Creative Direction @omni.cathy & @belescx 

Photographer: @bellescx

Stylist:  @omni.cathy

Models: @omni.cathy & @naranjaaass

Hair @sasukistudiohair 

Mua: @giupichirallo

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ABOUT THE CREATOR

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Belén Catalán is a Costa Rican-Canadian interdisciplinary artist based in Montréal, Québec. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Concordia University. Her practice bridges photography, video, real-time graphics, and creative direction, engaging themes of identity, memory, and the dialogue between digital and physical environments. Her work has been exhibited at FOFA Gallery, VAV Gallery, Art Matters Festival, and Lignes de Fuite, where she has also contributed as curator and creative director.

Website: belenscatalan.wixsite.com

Instagram: @bellescx

Catherine De Sa Quintaes is a self-taught fashion stylist and art director who walks the line between soft and sexy. Her projects emulate the dream of a girl who hasn’t quite come into herself yet. The owning of a sexuality she doesn’t quite understand. She’s built sets and styled artists for music videos and photo shoots alike and wants to continue to expand her reach as she goes forward.

Instagram: @omni.cathy

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