Lea Culetto completed her residency at Matadero Madrid
Lea Culetto continued her research into the history of hair, this time focusing on a recurring phenomenon: punishment through hair cutting.
Over two years of exploring the socio-cultural significance of hair and hairiness, Lea Culetto uncovered many stories with striking similarities – one of the most prevalent being hair cutting or shaving as a form of punishment. This practice appears in both fiction and reality, from mythology and fairy tales to historical and modern events. It shows up in the myth of the goddess Dali, in the story of Rapunzel, during the witch trials, and in wartime acts, such as the treatment of Las Rapadas during the Spanish Civil War.
Many cultures believe that hair carries memories and stores power – that it acts as an antenna, connecting us to ancestral knowledge, the earth, and the sky. When someone’s hair is forcibly removed, especially in the case of women, it is not just their beauty being stripped away, but also their memories and their power. Long, lush hair often symbolizes fertility, health, sexuality, and freedom. This form of punishment is not only a physical act – it is also a psychological attack, meant to destroy a woman both inside and out.
What might seem like a simple act of shame or discipline is, in fact, deeply rooted in ancient narratives and cultural beliefs. It holds symbolic power, and it is time we reclaim that power.
Lea’s Art practice at Matadero Madrid
During her research, Lea Culetto began learning a gathering technique called smocking – a method of manipulating fabric into various three-dimensional patterns, one of which resembles braids. She used this technique to hand-sew a frame for a new piece she created in collaboration with FABLAB at Matadero. Together, they engraved a stylized image of armpit hair onto scraps of leather she sourced from a local shop.
At the end of her residency, she also created a unique typography. Inspired by the shapes of scanned, removed body hair – which reminded her of letters – she began to rotate, rearrange, and experiment with the forms until a full alphabet emerged.
