I work with a variety of mediums, but my main emphases are drawing and painting. My recent works center on the Salvadoran Civil War. Oftentimes, ideas for a piece are an arrangement of various images about my dad’s experience as a soldier during the Salvadoran Civil War, such as pictures when he first enlisted into the Army. Other ideas are inspired by uncovering the truth of the civil war. Certain people in power and the media have spun their story of what supposedly happened. According to them, the Salvadoran military is the villain who allegedly killed many innocent civilians and recruited young boys. However, after learning from my father, other veterans, and declassified U.S. and Salvadoran government sources, the culprits behind the gory war, were certain Jesuit priests and the guerrilla (known today as the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front or FMLN).

My art celebrates the Salvadoran veterans who sacrificed their well-being for their country. My work is giving credit where it’s due and challenges the history that has been established. Not all soldiers who served during the war were evil. By viewing my work, I want people to question the reliability of the history that they have been taught. An erroneous history affects real people. Unlike U.S. heroes, Salvadoran veterans are disregarded by many in their community. I want my viewers to question the information that they are given and see that some of it may be misconstrued and weigh a negative impact on people who don’t deserve it.

Mirna Carolina López would like to thank faculty sponsor Deborah Douglas for their support with this project.