The ongoing violation of indigenous rights, coupled with the exploitation of their land by colonial and capitalist practices, has resulted in the devastation of the natural environment. Throughout history, animals and plants have been invaluable assets, contributing to the exoticization of various regions. Indigenous communities worldwide serve as guardians of natural resources, and their displacement from their ancestral lands inevitably leads to the suffering of animals and vegetation.
“Not One of Us” intends to confront the complex relationship between colonialism and migration. The series “Runners” depicts refugees from diverse origins and their journeys, honoring those who seek refuge in a better future. The term “runner” refers both to individuals who flee and long narrow rugs used to connect hallways, symbolizing the role of refugees as connectors of cultures and places from around the globe.
In contrast to the fiber art pieces, the project includes a series of paintings titled “Forasteros,” the Spanish term for foreigners. These works explore historical and contemporary manifestations of colonialism, prompting viewers to contemplate the dynamics between first-world visitors to third or newly established countries and the influx of immigrants to the first world.
Beyond these works, the project also includes two welcome rugs, representing my home city and country (Bogotá, Colombia) and additionally, several small latch-hooked rugs depicting endemic and endangered species from various countries, primarily from regions with significant emigration patterns.
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Pathway to Rafah Crossing (2024) Tufted tapestry, variety of yarns over rug backing and fiber trim 65.5” x 30.75” Portrays two Palestinian women on their way to Rafah Crossing which is the only crossing point to Egypt from Gaza. It also shows an ancient olive tree being destroyed by bombing as it symbolizes their deep connection to their land and their heritage. |
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Diaspora (2023) Hand Tufted Tapestry, variety of yarns over burlap 51.5” x 29” |
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Rio Grande (2022) Hand Tufted Tapestry, variety of yarns over rug backing and pompom trim 66” x 30.5” Portrays a Guatemalan Woman and her family crossing the Rio Grande. |
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Pathway to Poland (2022) Tufted Tapestry, variety of yarns over rug backing and ribbons 70.5” x 30” Portrays an Ukrainian woman trying to flee from the claws of a bear that represents Russia. She is also trying to hold on to her culture and roots represented by the Nightingale, one of Ukraine’s national birds. |
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Camino del Orinoco (2022) Tufted Tapestry, variety of yarns over rug backing, feathers and tassel trim 70” x 31” Portrays a Warao girl from Venezuela. The Warao poeple live along the delta of the Orinoco river. |
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Central Mediterranean Route (2022) Latch Hooked Tapestry, variety of fibers over rug backing and golden fringe trim 62” x 29” Portrays a boy coming from the Northern part of Africa mostly Libya to Italy. |
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Eastern Mediterranean Route (2022) Tufted Tapestry, variety of yarns over rug backing and fringe trim 65” x 31” Portrays an Assyrian father with his child. Assyrian People from Syria and Iraq. |
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Golden Crescent (2022) Tufted Tapestry, variety of yarns over rug backing and handmade fringe. 69.75” x 30” Portrays an Afghan woman at a refugee camp. Golden Crescent is the name of the moon shaped peripheral mountain area between several countries, in which opium production and trafficking is taken place. It is also one of the common routes that migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran usually have to take to flee their countries. |
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Silk Road (2023) Tufted Tapestry, variety of yarns over rug backing and faux fur. 29.5” x 67” Portrays two Kazakh teens fleeing from Xinjiang, China through the tundra. |
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Pathway to Kangaten (2022) Tufted Tapestry, variety of yarns over rug backing and glass beads. 66.5” x 30” Portrays three women from South Sudan on their way to Kangaten, Ethiopia, one of the places where Toposa tribe people flee to. |
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Deadly Trails (2023) Tufted Tapestry, variety of yarns over rug backing and fiber trim. 30” x 11’ An homage to those who have died on their journeys in search of a better home, this tapestry portrays people from diverse origins depicted as Chancay dolls, which are funerary figures made by the Chancay people, a culture from Peru that disappeared centuries ago. |
Mzungu (2021)
Acrylics over canvas.
30” x 48”
Mzungu is used to refer to white people in Swahili speaking countries an it meanswanderer in Bantu.
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Shetani Mwepe (2023) Acrylics over canvas 48” x 36” Shetani Mwepe means “White Devil” in Swahili. |
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Wasichu (2023) Acrylics over canvas. 48” x 30” Wasichu means “The taker of the fat or greedy one” in Lakota. |
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Gringo (2021) Acrylics over canvas, 30” x 48” Gringo is used to refer to white foreigner in Latin America. |
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Welcome to Bogotá (2022) Latch hooked tapestry 20” x 29” |
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Welcome to Colombia (2022) Latch hooked tapestry 20” x 29” |
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Our Land (2022) Latch-hooked rugs 9” x 9” (In order from left to right) Boto (Amazonas), Peacock Spider, (Australia), Mountain Tapir (Colombia), Flyer Catcher (Guatemala), Greater Lophorina (Papua New Guinea), Mandrill (West Central Africa), Saiga Antilope (Afghanistan), Axolotl (Mexico), Ili Pika (Jilimalale Mountain, Tianshan Mountains, China or Mountains of Heaven, Kazakh Region), Northern White Rhinoceros (South Sudan), Pangolin (South Sudan), Venezuelan Turpial (Venezuela). |