Nobody cares. But I keep talking about it.

by Magaly Arocha Rivas – figurative painter

I am a contemporary Latin American painter from Venezuela, living in Italy. In my artistic work, I tell stories about memory, resistance, and justice. Through my paintings, I try to give a voice to those who are forgotten.

And among these voices are those of the indigenous women of the Amazon.
“No one cares about indigenous women.”
I’ve heard it said. Many times. But I keep talking about it.

Women, languages, and knowledge on the brink of extinction

A woman teaching Quechua to her children, a Maya poet passing down the myths of her people, are not just engaging in folklore. They are defending an irreplaceable cultural and environmental heritage.

Every indigenous language that disappears extinguishes a living library:

Knowledge about medicinal plants,
Ecological balances,
Spiritual visions of the world.

In my paintings, these stories transform into faces. In each piece, I seek the strength of those who, often in silence, resist and preserve.

🎨 Look at TXAI → A spiritual portrait of Txai Suruí, a young activist from the Brazilian Amazon.

Defending the land, challenging power

Indigenous women are not only guardians of the Amazon rainforest. They defend water, dignity, and human rights. And they do so by facing structural violence:

Poverty, isolation,
Discrimination, domestic violence,
Trafficking and exploitation.

In the Global Witness report – Missing Voices (2023), it was reported that 196 environmental activists were killed worldwide. 85% of them were in Latin America, and 43% were indigenous. Many of them were women.

These women challenge the extraction industry, illegal deforestation, and even patriarchal roles in their own communities.

Among them:

Nina Gualinga, Ecuador
Alessandra Korap, Brazil
Sônia Guajajara, currently Minister for Indigenous Peoples of Brazil

Even in Venezuela, my country, the Pemón, Wayúu, and other indigenous women resist to protect their land and identity.

🎨 Discover NINA → A pictorial tribute to the strength of young indigenous activists.

Committed art: a painting that gives voice

I live in Italy, but these stories inhabit me. They are part of my identity and also of my perspective on the world. My art is figurative, female-centered, inspired by reality but deeply connected to social and environmental justice.

Every painting I create is a way to say:
“Look. Listen. Don’t forget.”

🎨 Discover GUARDIANS OF THE FOREST II→ A young and silent face that speaks of strength, care, and roots.

And what about us?

Those of us living in Europe might think that these struggles are far away. In reality, we are much closer than we imagine.

The illegal gold mining that destroys the Amazon is also fueled by those who buy jewelry without asking questions. The wood in our furniture, if not certified, may come from violated and deforested lands.

Every choice has an environmental impact.
We are all part of the problem. But also of the solution.

Art as an act of responsibility

For me, my painting is a way to create connections between distant worlds. But it is also cultural and political resistance.

Each piece is an opportunity not to remain indifferent.

🎨 Explore the full series “Amazonia – Indigenous Stories“

If no one cares… then let’s start from here.
My works are not meant to fill a wall, but to speak of reality, memory, and awareness.

➡ If you want to learn more, click here.

Nobody cares. But I keep talking about it