We find ourselves in the moment of transit where space and time cross to produce complex figures of difference and identity, past and present, inside and outside, inclusion and exclusion... — The Location of Culture, by Homi K. Bhabha.
The (IN)VISIBLE TRACES series of works are inspired by personal memories and experiences, the assimilation of other cultures, appropriated images from mass media, and old family photographs. Utilizing personal iconography, through assemblages and a process of layering of these different elements, I try to convey a sense of multiple realities, time references, and existence. The works address issues of identity, hybridization, and transculturalism.
My philosophical approaches are based on transculturalism and multiculturalism in the context of Postmodernism, as well as Postcolonial theories. These ideas are inspired by Jacques Derrida’s theory on Deconstruction and perception, Homi K. Bhabha’s postmodern and postcolonial cultural theories.
The BLING BLING-BOOM BOOM series of works addresses issues of multiculturalism, consumerism, and the environment. The background scenes are mostly appropriated from the news media, while the images of the figures are from consumer advertisements. The two distinctively different media sources are juxtaposed in order to present an absurd and cynical perspective on a society obsessed with celebrities, gangsters, glamour, and the “bling” culture. Powerful and influential advertising campaigns that often ignore the “other” with their branding somehow do reach and influence the culturally diverse youth of the inner cities. However, the suburban American dream with its super sized vehicles, mega malls, guarded gated communities, designer coffee shops, and glorious mansions is not immune to the urban influence. Similar to the global phenomenon of reverse colonization the inner city forged rhythms, fashion statements, and street “lingo” has had its own influence on the suburban youth. Cultural borders are constantly being crossed and blurred in the sprawling American landscape, while moral imperatives are replaced by the “here and now” mentality of a consumer driven society.