As an international student, my journey is marked by the bittersweet experience of leaving behind irreplaceable connections and familiar surroundings in pursuit of a better future. The themes of homesickness, loneliness, and the struggle to adapt to a new culture are central to my work. My pieces reflect a yearning to return to simpler times amid an overwhelming culture of overconsumption and excess. They also echo fragmented memories of my life before leaving everything behind for growth. Working with wood enhances the simplicity and materiality of one of my works, while in another, it provides rigidity and structure. Both pieces explore the concept of home and the importance of preserving the values, memories, and culture of one’s land. I am submitting two distinct works:
Pata Flaca
Acrylic and oil on wood, 4 x 4 feet, 2024
The painting is a self-portrait of my legs looking down at a dying Andean flamingo, or parihuana, which is believed to have inspired the Peruvian flag. This species, native to my birthplace in Peru, represents many childhood and teenage experiences.
Untitled
Pencil and ink on cradled wood panel, 12 x 12 inch, 2024
The drawing on wood features a monobloc chair, an international symbol of simplicity and family. For me it evokes memories of family reunions, reminding me of parties, and events held around these chairs. I remember the chairs branded with "Cuzqueña" and "Cristal" logos in cevicherias alongside the Panamericana highway and I think they could spark similar memories in the viewer as well.
