Te Quiero Mucho explores the intersection of memory and movement, employing the visual medium of dance and utilizing archival imagery to explore their connection.
At the heart of my expansive Mexican family stands my Grandmother, the guiding force of my family. Despite grappling with Dementia, she remains a steadfast reminder of our shared roots. Through this endeavor, I seek to illustrate our cherished family history, capturing fleeting moments of a legacy Losing the race against time.
Over the course of several months, I diligently gathered and organized a repository of archival images spanning multiple generations within my family lineage. This project stands as a documentation of my familial heritage, concurrently acting as a testament to the resilience in preserving tradition and cultural ethos amidst diaspora.
My grandmother, who immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico at 20, worked as a seamstress in a Los Angeles warehouse until her sixties. To honor her legacy, I've chosen, printed, and hand-sewn carefully selected images onto fabric, creating a tribute through textiles.
I presented the images on the falda of a folklórico dress. Folklorico is the national dance of Mexico, deeply rooted in the tradition of storytelling. This art form evokes themes of connectivity and motion, serving as a poignant reference to the complex notion of diaspora.
Ultimately, this project serves as a reverential tribute to my grandmother, commemorating the sacrifices she undertook to ensure a better life for generations to come.
Even as my grandmother's memory fades, one cherished tradition remains: our farewell ritual. Whether parting for mere moments or enduring separations spanning months, we always recite, 'Te quiero mucho, ma' 'Y tambien yo, mi amor.'
Ma, te quiero mucho.
