IN-VISIBLE. This photographic project is a critique to the Macho way of thinking embedded in Mexican and other Latino societies. I aim to raise consciousness about the way language is used as a way of perpetuating Machismo, being rooted in the core of our most common thoughts and sayings. Society is shaped through language; the way in which we use words to name the world is a reflection of the way we perceive it and the language we speak is what moulds our thoughts and beliefs. Society has underestimated the influence words have upon us.
In-visible portrays Latin American individuals with different phrases tattooed over their bodies. These phrases are ones we use on a regular basis in Mexico, some of them are more subtle than others, but they all have the essence of the Macho way of thinking implicit in them. It is through the repetition of these phrases that Macho concepts are embedded in people’s consciousness, which later on translate into violent actions, whether psychological or physical. People are raised with a line of thought in which “All men are the same,” “This is not a girls game,” or doing certain things are considered “gay” because they are thought to be exclusively feminine, consequently feeding misogyny.
This project invites the viewer to question her/himself about the way they have been raised, they way they use language and how they might be participating in this line of thought without even being aware of it. By playing with the concept of tattooing, In-visible creates a visual metaphor in which the individuals portrayed are psychologically tattooed by the everyday phrases they have written on their skin.
I intend to make the viewer reflect about how this kind of upbringing affects us as both men and women and I believe that we need to question our ways in order to reshape society. By eliminating certain phrases, rethinking the way we use language and renaming the world in an inclusive, non-misogynistic and more equalitarian way, we can start changing people’s mindset.
The photographs are printed in offset, in a rotary printing press on newspaper. There are 8,000 pieces, 2,000 for each of the different four images. This technique was chosen because the material is something familiar to everyone. The newspaper invites the spectator to take it and own it, leaving the frame and glass barrier behind.
In order to achieve its objective, In-visible will be placed as an installation in common places in the streets of Mexico City, where the general public may see it in places such as different subway stations and on city walls during the summer of 2010. In some public spaces spectators will be encouraged to take a free photograph, giving them the opportunity to own an original art piece, thus helping to close the gap between the art world and the general low income public.
There will be a documentation of the installation on the streets as well as the public´s reaction to the art piece.
- Claudia Espinosa Ramos
contactme@cerrucha.com
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