(2024) Uprooted: Incomplete Family Portrait -
Ghosts I, II, III, & IV and the Bleaching of Roots
Ghosts I, II, III, & IV and the Bleaching of Roots
This work consists of five spectral forms, each representing a family member. The piece forms an incomplete family portrait, mirroring the fragmented nature of first-generation diasporic families. Using the metaphor of an uprooted tree as a ghost, I explore themes of migration, displacement, and extraction—the extraction of people, beliefs, knowledge, and culture. I draw parallels between nature, personal experiences, family narratives, and history.
I use the ghosts and the construction of their bodies to examine trauma and the resources we use to adapt and repair, colliding materials in the process. Portraying exile as a transformative process rather than a static state —
an ongoing journey of becoming.
A significant spiritual dimension emerges from my research into the Quimbayas and the rites of María Lionza in Yaracuy, Venezuela, their rituals, and artifacts, which were used to navigate the space between life and the afterlife, living between worlds. This exploration connects to the broader religious syncretism observed in South America, where diverse influences have shaped the region's spiritual landscape.
I use the ghosts and the construction of their bodies to examine trauma and the resources we use to adapt and repair, colliding materials in the process. Portraying exile as a transformative process rather than a static state —
an ongoing journey of becoming.
A significant spiritual dimension emerges from my research into the Quimbayas and the rites of María Lionza in Yaracuy, Venezuela, their rituals, and artifacts, which were used to navigate the space between life and the afterlife, living between worlds. This exploration connects to the broader religious syncretism observed in South America, where diverse influences have shaped the region's spiritual landscape.
