The Museo de Arte de Lima announced on Apr. 15 the opening of the exhibition ‘Astrid Jahnsen. Doscientos gramos’, curated by Carlo Trivelli and displayed in gallery 26 on the museum’s second floor.
This exhibition features work from artist Astrid Jahnsen, whose series ‘Doscientos gramos’ continues her exploration into overlooked representations of women in encyclopedic imagery. The show includes 119 photographs and several objects, with some original encyclopedia volumes available for public viewing. Many images are also included in Jahnsen’s book published in Spain in 2025.
Jahnsen’s process involves re-photographing images from childhood encyclopedias using a macro lens to focus on details that often go unnoticed, particularly incidental female figures within broader scenes. Her approach aims to highlight what she describes as the underlying patriarchal structure of these reference works, where editorial committees were exclusively male and most entries and illustrations feature men or women depicted only through their relationships with men.
The artist’s motivation is rooted in personal experience: as a child assisting her grandmother with crossword puzzles using these encyclopedias, she noticed the lack of female representation—a realization that later inspired this project after inheriting those same books. The resulting collection forms what Jahnsen calls a “female counter-encyclopedia,” composed of anonymous women found by chance within encyclopedia photos—such as workers, students, mothers, or passersby.
The Museo de Arte de Lima enhances community wellbeing by offering accessible art exhibitions and educational initiatives that promote appreciation of Peru’s cultural identity, according to the official website. The institution utilizes the historic Palacio de la Exposición as its primary facility according to its official website, and is managed by Patronato de las Artes—a private non-profit cultural organization comprised of notable Peruvian business leaders and intellectuals according to the official website. MALI preserves, studies, and exhibits Peru’s artistic heritage from pre-Columbian eras to modern times while educating the public and advancing cultural growth according to its official site.
As a national cultural center focused primarily on audiences in Lima but serving all of Peru according to its official website, MALI has provided exhibitions, programs, and events promoting appreciation for national heritage since its establishment in 1961 according to its official site.
