Sortilegio I, 2022, the embedded text made of soil from her 2018 journey, describes her experience as an undocumented immigrant, conveying the immense weight, both physical and psychological, that is felt on one’s body and soul. It goes on to describe the ancestral strength that helps the artist push herself forward, working through the physical, political, and spiritual hurdles that she has encountered through her lived experience
Materials: soil acquired during the performance Huellas que Germinan in 2018, cal hidratada (hydrated lime), corn masa (dough), salt, rain, screws, plywood, and gypsum board.
72”x96”
Photos by Ian Byers-Gamber
MI PULSO NARRA LA ADRENALINA DE UN INCENDIO
QUE CON AGUA NO SE APAGA
SALUDO AL PRESENTE EN DONDE LAS HUELLAS
DEL PASADO GERMINAN
MIENTRAS MIS PIES SE LIVERAN DE SUS ZAPATOS
ES AQUI COMO MIS HUELLAS TRAZAN EL VIAJE
ES AQUI DONDE MIS PIERNAS SE VULEVEN
MAS FUERTES AL GOLPEAR EL SUELO
ES AQUI DONDE MIS BRAZOS APRENDEN A BALANCEAR
EL PESO DE MI CUERPO ES AQUI
DONDE MI FUERZA LA OXIGENAN
MIS ABUELOS Y MI MADRE
MY PULSE NARRATES THE ADRENALINE OF A FIRE
WHICH DOES NOT TURN OFF WITH WATER
I GREET THE PRESENT WHERE MY FOOTPRINTS
FROM THE PAST GERMINATE
WHILE MY FEET ARE FREED FROM THEIR SHOES
THIS IS HOW MY FOOT PRINTS TRACE THE JOURNEY
THIS IS WHERE MY LEGS BECOME
STRONGER WHEN THEY HIT THE GROUND
THIS IS WHERE MY ARMS LEARN TO BALANCE
THE WEIGHT OF MY BODY IS HERE
WHERE MY STRENGTH IS OXYGENATE
BY MY ANCESTORS AND MY MOTHER
