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Ni de Aquí Ni de Allà / Neither Here Nor There: an Exhibition by Valeria Perez
For more context behind these images and to view other elements of the exhibit (like the participatory elements) check out the exhibit gallery, script and research paper.
Cultivation of Beauty Ideals (2023)
Portrait of Self
I had heard of the struggles that my grandparents and my mother had faced in their upbringings and in their journeys to becoming U.S. Citizens. They did all that for me, and yet I was captivated by western ideals. I wanted to be like what I saw on T.V. I wanted to be an acceptable kind of Mexican.
I had heard of the struggles that my grandparents and my mother had faced in their upbringings and in their journeys to becoming U.S. Citizens. They did all that for me, and yet I was captivated by western ideals. I wanted to be like what I saw on T.V. I wanted to be an acceptable kind of Mexican.
Markers of the Border. (2023)
U.S. / Mexico border from El Paso, TX and Juarez, CH.
So much tragedy and yet I ignored it.
So much tragedy and yet I ignored it.
Markers of the Border. (2023)
U.S. / Mexico border from El Paso, TX and Juarez, CH.
So much tragedy and yet I ignored it.
So much tragedy and yet I ignored it.
Markers of the Border. (2023)
U.S. / Mexico border from El Paso, TX and Juarez, CH.
So much tragedy and yet I ignored it.
So much tragedy and yet I ignored it.
Markers of the Chicanidad. (2023)
Portraits taken of Luis and Jorge at Lincoln Park, El Paso, TX.
Such great style and tradition and that I missed out on while trying to be adequate.
Such great style and tradition and that I missed out on while trying to be adequate.
Markers of the Chicanidad. (2023)
Portraits taken of Luis and Jorge at Lincoln Park, El Paso, TX.
Such great style and tradition and that I missed out on while trying to be adequate.
Such great style and tradition and that I missed out on while trying to be adequate.
Markers of the Chicanidad. (2023)
Portraits taken of Luis and Jorge at Lincoln Park, El Paso, TX.
Such great style and tradition and that I missed out on while trying to be adequate.
Such great style and tradition and that I missed out on while trying to be adequate.
I am ashamed for ever being ashamed. (2023)
Portrait of Self, replica of Frida Kahlo’s earrings, and the sacred heart inspired by Frida’s art.
At some point during my youth I learned about iconic Mexican figures. Frida Kahlo reflected parts of myself back at me. I soon fell in love with what Frida represented, and so I began to fall in love with me.
At some point during my youth I learned about iconic Mexican figures. Frida Kahlo reflected parts of myself back at me. I soon fell in love with what Frida represented, and so I began to fall in love with me.
We are unlearning that brownness is bad. (2023)
We are unlearning that brownness is bad. (2023)
We are unlearning that brownness is bad. (2023)
We are unlearning that brownness is bad. (2023)
Portraits of Jonavey and Antonella.
We are unlearning that our roots are not ideal.
We are unlearning that our roots are not ideal.
I’m Sorry I Didnt Listen to You, Mamita. (2023)
Homemade food my mama made.
I’m sorry (to my Mexicanness).
I’m sorry (to my Mexicanness).
I’m Sorry I Didnt Listen to You, Mamita. (2023)
Homemade food my mama made.
I’m sorry (to my Mexicanness).
I’m sorry (to my Mexicanness).
I’m Sorry I Didnt Listen to You, Mamita. (2023)
Homemade food my mama made.
I’m sorry (to my Mexicanness).
I’m sorry (to my Mexicanness).
Family is everything. (2023)
Portraits of Grace and her mamita Graciela outside their home in the City of Socorro, TX.
How beautiful it is, the way we cherish our family, our parents.
How beautiful it is, the way we cherish our family, our parents.
Family is everything. (2023)
Portraits of Grace and her mamita Graciela outside their home in the City of Socorro, TX.
How beautiful it is, the way we cherish our family, our parents.
How beautiful it is, the way we cherish our family, our parents.
Beautiful Traditions. (2023)
Portraits of Jackie, somewhere along the border.
There is so much beauty in our heritage. Jackie is wearing her mother's traditional Mexican dress. She is a person with Wixárika (Huichol), Chiricahua Apache, and Mexica (Náhuatlaca) indigenous roots, and is also a border person.
There is so much beauty in our heritage. Jackie is wearing her mother's traditional Mexican dress. She is a person with Wixárika (Huichol), Chiricahua Apache, and Mexica (Náhuatlaca) indigenous roots, and is also a border person.
Beautiful Traditions. (2023)
Portraits of Jackie, somewhere along the border.
There is so much beauty in our heritage. Jackie is wearing her mother's traditional Mexican dress. She is a person with Wixárika (Huichol), Chiricahua Apache, and Mexica (Náhuatlaca) indigenous roots, and is also a border person.
There is so much beauty in our heritage. Jackie is wearing her mother's traditional Mexican dress. She is a person with Wixárika (Huichol), Chiricahua Apache, and Mexica (Náhuatlaca) indigenous roots, and is also a border person.
Someone con el nopal en la frente. (2023)
The monarch butterfly is a cherished piece of Mexican culture. An endangered species whose existence has been threatened as a result of harmful rhetoric surrounding the U.S.-Mexico border, much like our culture. I will continue telling my stories as a border person, and I will continue to attempt to help share the stories of my people.
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