Is violence an inherent aspect of art?

? EARS TO THE GROUND-

Death of an Artist dives deep into the life and mysterious death of Ana Mendieta, a groundbreaking artist surrounded by controversy in the art world. The podcast, hosted by Helen Molesworth, unfolds like a detective story, as she shares new evidence that reveals the details of the crime.

The first episode kicks off with a scene from Mendieta’s early career, where she stages a shocking piece of performance art, covered in blood on a sidewalk, and being ignored by indifferent passersby. From here Molesworth's quest to unravel the story begins. We’re taken on a journey of Mendieta’s impactful art, leading to her tragic marriage to minimalist sculptor Carl Andre, who we later learn was accused of her murder.

Death of an Artist isn’t just about solving a mystery; it's a critique of how the art community handles violence against women, and its complicity in maintaining silence, which provides true crime narratives woven into art history and social issues.

It gets a bit dark. At one point, Molesworth visits the building where Mendieta died, and describes the haunting themes of Mendieta's own provocative artworks and the powerful impact she left behind.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible and Amazon Music.