Identity: we are all unique
Arts can be something very challenging, especially if it's your last option. These past two years of my life were I was fortunate enough to attend art class, made me realize that art is something more than just an “easy” class. My expectations on the first day were low, and on the last day, were up a little bit.
Nevertheless, my experience was great, I got to work on my common thread (identity) that helped me identify something about me and the society that is around me by looking at it from an artistic perspective. I wasn't the hardest worker. But I did have fun. For sure, I have to be one if not the art student with the less able to draw or really anything that includes artistic skills. If it wasn't for my ideas, probably this curatorial text that you are reading would be here. That's why my artworks are mainly things that don't require a lot of technique.
My teacher and I have an interesting story. The first day, all good. I thought it was another art teacher that was relaxed and would give me good grades without me even trying (imagine how much I worked in previous years). The first summative came around. Low grades, “okay, she's definitely not my type of teacher, it's her fault”. I was decided to be as distant as possible. As time passed, it was obvious that her intentions were pure. She only wanted the best from us. I started liking her, it came up to a point where I was asking her for advice for my personal life. One of the best teachers I could have asked for doing this art course.
Finally, this exhibition me represents the work I did for two years, it represents the friendships and moments that build me as a person. It's a compilation of my common thread, that's why it's also a part of me people are getting to see.
The effects of music
Title: Effects of the music
Measurements: 30 x 30cm
Technique: Photography
Date: October 2018
This Project resembles the idea of self-portrait, these pictures try to show the identity of my friend Santiago Garcia. Music to him is very important, it moves him and keeps the spark of his soul. When I asked him what effect had the music in him, he tried to show it by wearing the hat, the headphones, the collar, and the facial expression. As a self-portrait, the expressions are key to accomplish the work. Editing the photo into black and white, it was evident that music is something more profound to him, it's a way of expression and not simple joy. Also, I tried to keep the focus point on his face by blurring the background. Thanks, Santiago, may the music be with you.
Broken Identities
Title: Broken identities
Technique: graffiti on glass
Date: October 2019
Measurements: 18.5 x 27.8 cm
This broken glass is the broken illusions of those who have been disappeared by uncertain circumstances. It's like stealing the identity of someone. One of the worst crimes, not only to the victim but to the victim's family. Very sad this is so normal in my Country. Rest in peace the victims of the Palacio de Justicia.
In the video, there is a more in-depth explanation of what the artwork is about
Go rigo go!
Measurements: Variable
Title: Go Rigo Go!
Date: November 202
Technique: chalk on the floor
This artwork for me is the representation of my last years in school. A lot of changes, some good, some bad, some I just wish never happened. This is about representing how identity through time changes, it's something that we can not evade. Everyone has them, at don't worry, there are normal.
This project's just another memory. Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 situation, there are no proofs of the artwork, neither are pictures or sketches of the idea. But don't worry, let me tell you and your imagination explore.
The project was a social intervention at the front gate of the school. The idea was to paint or draw a donkey, a representation of the school mascot Rigoberto. It was done in chalk, my intention with this material was to how it slowly was going to fade away, as the car passes and the climate affect it. Well, by drawing the donkey in chalk and doing at the front gate, had a hidden message or a meaning behind it. It represents how Tilata´s identity shown by Rigoberto, was slowly going away, the buses that came in and out daily were going to erase it. As well as the climate, a constant change that no matter how it affected the identity. Tilata has changed a lot in the past years, This was my way to critique these changes, after all, the school wasn't the same as I remembered when I was a child.
The project was only done in ideas, well the amount of chalk that was required was a lot and in a day I couldn't finish it. The next day, the donkey was erased by the strong storm the night before had happened. Maybe in the future someone or I can finish this idea so all tilateños can look at it.
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The hanging t-shirts
Title: The hanging t-shirts
Measurements: Variable
Technique: Artistic intervention
Date: April 2020
The shirts hanging are a representation of the urban slang “colgar los guayos” in this case, is “colgar la camiseta”. An end of an era that I wish never ended. This is a very sentimental artwork that aims to reflect my passion for sports, especially soccer. Each shirt was part of a different team, I wore them all in different matches. I lost, I won and definitely I had moments to remember. The idea of the video was to do a “journey” across the shirts. Representing my career as a soccer player.
Blank-O
Title: Blank-O
Technique: Stop motion
Measurements: Variable
Date: May 2020
This stop motion was my attempt to create history through colors where I could show what identity was about. As the little white ball eats as a representation of growing and learning new things, he gets new colors, like red, blue, and grey. The idea was to show identity was built from a cartoonish way. Each color has a meaning. White is the color of pureness and innocence. Every human is born pure and it's the environment that is in charge of forming the individual. Read it's for passion, we are passionate individuals. Blue is for intelligence and physical strength. Finally grey shows the sad part of life, not everything is positive. It's just a short story about Blanco, a little guy that wants to grow.
