Leslie Hernandez

Curatorial Rationale

This exploration of art-making became an eye-opening sequence of realization, questioning aspects of life. Growing up in a Catholic Mexican household, religion has contributed in the lectures given when misbehaving or celebration. As a child, my mom would say “Diosito te va castigar si te sigues portando mal”, God will punish you if you keep misbehaving. As a result, I would behave to prevent repercussions from the all mighty. Like any other family, mine is complicated, often interfering with personal dreams. Knowing that I am the “American Dream” of my parents, their dreams are the main priority. This sense of responsibility can lead to self destruct, losing connection with oneself, thus allowing the viewer to experience the positives and negatives of being a young Mexican-American.

The works, Perspectives and Take a Leap, are inspired by Michael Mapps’ use of abstract in his work. Perspectives shows family and religion colliding with creating introspection, the change would mean failing to meet the requirements of a virtuous life. Take a Leap shows ways of escaping the family's grasp. The focus still surrounds the image of religion, as a result of always asking myself if what I do is seen right in the eyes of the Almighty.

My sculpture, Dinner Discussions, is visually inspired by Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party. The viewer has the ability to walk around the sculpture to feel the issues and favorable moments in my family. I rely on the setting of a dinner table because it is the most vulnerable place to open up about important topics that are needed to be listened to. Dinner Discussions connection to Perspectives and Take a Leap serves a subtle connection to religion. It is the center of all discussions that bring or pushes the members of my family and the source of decision making of my own life. Showing an abrupt response to unconventional topics, I tend to be overwhelmed with how I can prosper in my own way without sabotaging my relationship with the family. Rituals relates to a traditional custom that has vases filled with maize and coins to provide good fortune. It is a contradiction to religious beliefs since it is classified as witchcraft. It is based on the creation of omens to maintain positive energy in a household and prevent setbacks. As Rituals is observed, the viewers take in the sentimental aspect of embracing an uneasy part of culture, while perceiving it as being ethical in a religious situation.

The artworks in the exhibition are placed to demonstrate the feeling of home. As the viewer enters, doubt should come when coming towards El Barrio. The artwork shows the viewer an unknown community, where many young people are influenced. The viewers are met with Viejitos and Rituals, the first impression before entering a home. The two artworks give the feeling of a loss in connection, having a memory but not fully comprehending the details when viewing from an exterior side. Take a Leap, Sueñito and Articulation are placed in the middle, demonstrating argumentative factors that come between the family. Take a Leap demonstrates the act of choices, Articulation interprets the environment of the household based on the family’s beliefs within the household, and Sueñito shows fear of what can happen in an uncontrolled setting. Below the artworks, Dinner Discussions is placed in the center of the exhibition bringing all the artworks together to create the feeling of seriousness. Every piece that is up in the exhibition walls has once been the topic of discussion that has occurred in real-life. Following afterward, the viewer sees three more artworks: Ave Maria, Simplemente Yo, and Perspectives. The viewers should feel awkward when facing the artworks, as the artworks expose personal emotions, things kept in private to prevent judgment from others. As the viewer comes to the end of my exhibition, the major concept I want the viewers to take in is the idea of family’s beliefs and goals that can come as an interference of pursuing personal growth. To achieve personal growth, it is required to free from the solitude bubble that has once kept you from the dangers of the real world.

None of the artworks in this gallery are for sale.

El Barrio

Photography

33cm x 50.8cm

This photographic series represents my neighborhood. I capture what is considered as the most violent neighborhood, which is slightly improving, taking steps forward, but also steps backwards. To do this, I included two downfalls of the neighborhood and one good outcome that was influenced by these negative acts. The first picture is a candle memorial in front of a house. The second is a traffic circle that has been recently built. The third picture is an abandoned house, where a body was found.

Not Available

Sueñito

Acrylic on Canvas

40.6cm x 50.8cm

Through this artwork, I conveyed realism to portray a dream I had. Although it never happened, it was a graphic image. The perspective of the viewers is through a window, looking at nothing in specific except houses and trees which were important in my dream. I wanted to express the feeling of emptiness, relating to the experience of this imagery of myself. Dreams are blurry and out of focus, realism helps clear up the conscious mental states by showing that the reality has not been affected.

Not Available

Viejitos

Collage

27.9cm x 38.1cm

This artwork shows a non-existing relationship between myself and my grandparents. Living in different countries, I never met my grandparents. I wanted to create a family portrait, for which I added a blue skyline, green shapes, and red outlines for a rural setting. The watch symbolizes a limit in time, placing images of my grandparents and of my sisters to create a sense of closure for never meeting them. The distorted face gives the feeling of eyes lingering in the time taken away from them.

Not Available

Rituals

Sculpture

20.3cm x 25.4cm, 18cm x 13cm

Through this sculpture, I wanted to create a series of traditional rituals that are typically found in my tradition. My mom adopted this tradition as a way to have a personal connection, following this technique gives closure of not being able to be by her side during her death. My mom watched as my grandma created these rituals to not have a loss of food source nor money for the family. Inside the rituals, there is money hidden inside of honey to conserve it and provide new income opportunities.

Not Available

Detail views of Rituals

Articulation

Graphite on Paper

46cm x 33cm

By using reference images of surgery, my hand and pendant, I began drawing how religion is inserted into our lives. Growing up, my life has been surrounded by enforced ideas, particularly regarding religion. Having a religious pendant being inserted into a hand is a way to represent how religion is “taught” in families. Children are easy to manipulate, in good and bad ways. Similar to a hand, it can be manipulated to prosper in its natural function, how children are taught to follow a good life.

Not Available

Take a Leap

Collage

27.9cm x 38.1cm

This artwork surrounds a problematic topic within my family, religion. Entering a modern period, religion causes multiple points of view between old and young people. The ability to make choices always includes religious perspective, going to heaven or hell depends on daily deeds perceived. Hence, the repetition of circles of different buildings representing opportunities when stepping out of self-comfort. With this overpowering the image of the religious figure, it can overcloud personal identity.

Not Available

Dinner Discussions

Mixed Media; plates, table, plastic flowers, lace, underwear

This artwork consists of four moments in my family. I include moments by using everyday objects that present moments occured in the kitchen area. The plates represent a moment that has impacted everyone in my family. The first plate has rubber bands, creating a tense friction on a small space. The second consists of women and children underwear, expressing women hood. The third consists of plants and a mirror, creating the illusion of change. And the last is broken signifying unwilling events.

Not Available

Plate 1

Plate 2

Plate 3

Plate 4

Ave Maria

Photography

33cm x 50.8cm

This religious figure, known as the Virgin Mary, has been with me for my whole life, giving relief to tense moods. Through the angle of the photograph, I wanted to provide my own perspective when looking up to this figure. I used to pray to relieve any scary moments, such as when my dad was arrested in front of me and when my dad was threatened in front of me and my family. Placing the rose in the angel is a way to show gratitude to the religious figure, for listening and keeping me and my family safe.

Not Available

Simplemente Yo

Collage

30.5cm x 22.5cm

The problems in my family have impacted the way I pursue personal growth. To demonstrate the negative aspects in family, I use bees to show the feeling of stinging, meaning the physical and mental breakdowns. Red and orange presents anger and disbelief for the lack of support received for personal goals. Fragility is shown through the yellow, creating a barrier around the women. Cut outs of eyes are placed on the shoulders to show pressure to do the ‘right’ thing for myself and family’s future.

Not Available

Perspectives

Collage

46.2cm x 28.7cm

This artwork explores the concept of religion interfering with family and creating personal thoughts. The juxtaposition of black and white against warm vibrant colors provide the illusion of static and dynamic change. As time and the family changed, what holds the family back is the religious beliefs. Images of parents are used to challenge religion, as they are not married but are united by the nature of love and the guidance of the fate of God. Using images of children causes peace to God.

Not Available

Contact the artist at hleslie684@gmail.com

Page updated

Report abuse