about the artist
I spent the first sixteen years of my life in Leon, Mexico, and I have now lived several years in the U.S.A. This time spent in these two disparate cultures has led me to constantly question everything about my persona. In my work I like to use different mediums but I always tend to practice woodcuts and ceramics because it reflects my heavily rooted connection to traditional Mexican art.
In my work I explore the separation I've experienced between the two nations; the images shown from two countries are meant to represent identity, confusion and acceptance. I am interested in the questions “What is required to be part of a nation?” and “What does it mean to be an Mexican American?” Using the term “Mexican-American” as a constant influence rather than just a migration moment, reflects the significance of the diaspora I live in, which positions the idea of homeland slowly and painfully in terms of the past. I constantly use images that certify my identity and nationality - something that proves my identity and where I belong, such as imagery of flags or passports. Identification images not only serve as a representation of my two homelands - they also show how I constantly cross an emotional border between these two societies. These border crossings create the feeling of a transient experience of cultural exploration, that helps me accept my dual citizenship and the feeling of belonging within two cultures.
