Dreams of Disappearance: New Painting Unveiled at Pembroke

Walking along the Rokos Quad bridge and into the Henderson Building, you may notice that something has changed. A new artwork, its fiery red and earthy tones contrasting the blues of Maxim Kantor's painting hanging beside it, was unveiled on 24th February in a ceremony attended by students, academics, staff and artists. Painted by Mexican artist Chantal Meza and titled Dreams of Disappearance, the forms of a mother and child appear in the centre of the canvas, like two shadows coming in and out of focus. 

Chantal Meza stood before Dreams of Disappearance hung in the Henderson Building

Just a few months ago, that very same painting hung downstairs in the JCR Art Gallery for a moving exhibition of works by Meza: A Disappearance of Worlds. On the occasion of the exhibition, which took place in the summer of 2025, a group of women visited Pembroke from Mexico to speak about their experience as members of searching mothers’ collectives. That is, as women who have experienced the pain of a loved one going missing in cases of violence and organised crime. All the way from Mexico, these women brought with them carefully embroidered patchwork and tapestries made up of images of missing people. Indira Navarro, leader of the searching mothers’ collective ‘Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco’, pulled out of her bag one such tapestry and a banner with the words ‘¿Dónde están’ sprawled in bright red across it, carefully placing it in front of Meza’s painting which now hangs in the Henderson Staircase. Painted shadows of mother and child looked down at images of real people - fathers, brothers, uncles - who have disappeared without a trace but will not be forgotten by those left behind. 

Chantal Meza and Indira Navarro stood with the painting and tapestry during last summer's exhibition

Part of both Pembroke's mission and that of exhibitions like this is to open up dialogues between different communities and within varied disciplines. Meza’s Disappearance of Worlds was a site of opportunity for diverse voices to come together and raise awareness about issues that seem far removed from Pembroke’s walls. Miguel Moctezuma, Coordinator of Pembroke’s Global Security Programme, spoke to us about his work exploring technologies for locating missing persons and clandestine graves as part of a series of public talks accompanying the exhibition. Other speakers including former Humanitarian Director of Save the Children, Gareth Owen, and incoming co-director of Asylum Welcome, Hari Reed, brought their own unique perspectives.

Meza’s painting, now part of Pembroke’s permanent collection, serves as a reminder of one of the core principles of this College: to serve the common good through the provision of education and the promotion of scholarship and research. That purpose underpins our approach to today's global challenges, no matter how distant those seem to be. 

"I am blessed to know that an artwork that I produced, which is really about the passing of time, now stands as a testimony to those who refuse to let time forget.”

“As I stood in front of the painting on the opening evening,” shared Meza, “I was reminded of the importance of time. I am blessed to know that an artwork that I produced, which is really about the passing of time, now stands as a testimony to those who refuse to let time forget.” Meza’s words at the unveiling ceremony and her 3CR Talk to students and academics later in the evening serve as an inspiring call to action; a challenge to resist complacency in the face of the privilege and power that come with access to education and the safety to share your voice and listen to those of others.

“I appreciated more during my time in Oxford that traditions are important, knowledge must be acquired and shared and the roots connecting you in the soil where you are born recognized and appreciated,” said Meza. We are proud to be able to display Meza’s work for our community to see and contemplate how their own voices and research can make a difference, big or small. 

Chantal Meza giving her 3CR Talk to members of each of the College's common rooms

Meza shared her sincere thanks to our Master, The Rt Hon Sir Ernest Ryder; to Director of the Centre for the Study of Violence at University of Bath, Brad Evans; to committee members of the JCR Art Collection Fund, Benoit, Amy, Cecilia and Leela; to our Operations Bursar, Vanessa Gouws; to Co-Director of the FOUND Project and Co-ordinator of the Global Security Programme, Miguel Moctezuma; and to Director of Oxford Festival of the Arts, Michelle Castelletti.

L-R: Benoit Mes, Amy Wilkinson, Miguel Moctezuma, Vanessa Gouws, Chantal Meza, Brad Evans

You can read more about the Disappearance of Worlds exhibition here and view the exhibition brochure here.

Below are the slides from Chantal's talk following the unveiling, which feature photographs from the exhibition and accompanying talk series.