¿Cuando Se Acaba? Parte II / When Is It Over? Part II
Inspired by the history of violence against LGBTQ+ people in Mexico, the installation showcases various scenes that depict acts of physical and verbal abuse. Toxic masculinity behaviour is integrated and fomented into society by these institutions and learned from childhood to adulthood and passed through generations. These generations trace their origins back to the conquest and colonization of Mexico. As the hate crimes were an import from the colonizers, the modern techniques of making paper and printing are, too. The first layer resembles "Papel Picado," or pecked paper, a marriage between pre-colonial practices of "Amatl" and the Spanish import of the Chinese paper-cutting technique. The work questions the violence that has become a tradition in Mexico and Latin America. The art installation also explores language as a weapon and some consequences for people.
With colonization, globalization and Queer people living in Diaspora, these experiences of acts of verbal abuse in different languages are more common than you think. In this installation, the placement of the words Puto, Joto, Sissy, Faggot, and Femme situates the viewer with colonial actions are using them to harm Queer people. These words usually are accompanied by self-harm, suicide, physical abuse or homicide. I hope the viewer can appreciate what it is like to live in a world where these words can haunt you and have the power to kill you. The installation poses the question, when will it be enough? How many more will we face? When will they stop? This installation was part of a group show at Beaver Hall Gallery, Toronto and a group show at The Quinte Arts Council's Gallery at Belleville, Ontario.