Ariana Gomez

SOMOS is a collaborative of artists and researchers who examine Latinx heritage and ignite conversations about Latinidad. Latinidad, a dynamic and ever-evolving expression, is a term that voices Latin America’s interconnected and multifaceted culture. Translated roughly to “Latinoness”—the label seeks to encapsulate the shared attributes of Latin American people while being both broad and individual, often provoking paradoxical questions and complex issues about identity. Latinidad, as an idea, is presented in this exhibition as something open to criticism and challenge.

By offering a platform that emphasizes rediscovery, recollection, and reconciliation, SOMOS helps navigate the intricate web of Latinx identity, which is often fragmented due to its exploitative inception. Employing the varied mediums of sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, and projections, SOMOS artists materialize and communicate the unique experiences that weave the fabrics of their Latinidad: Aguilera, Drigo and Gabo continue the conversation regarding Indigeneity, Gomez creates poetic images of home and her relationship with family, Varela queers imagery of borders, Figueredo carves colonial history, Venegas draws the intersection of queer and Latinx identities, Salcido paints ambiguous landscapes of mestizaje, among others. Their work delves into the profound influence of how our memory, our narratives, and our histories shape identity within the realm of contemporary art. In doing so, they invite the audience to engage with the following questions:

What is our relationship to our landscape?

What borders inhabit this landscape?

What do I embody? Who do I embody?

In this exhibition, SOMOS artists embark on an evocative exploration, prompting viewers to navigate the rich tapestry of Latinidad, challenge preconceptions, and redefine their own understanding of identity and connection.

Somos Recuerdos is organized by Alan Aguilera, Julio Martinez, and Fabiana Muñoz-Olmo, with Center Space Project.