Artist Statement 

The Masked Woman is a series in which I have a cartoon interacting with a realistic figure. Their interaction represents a psychological place in the indigenous consciousness called "nepantla".

Nepantla

"Nepantla" is an Aztec word meaning "torn between two ways" used to describe the cultural polarization that took place during the colonization of Mexico. The Aztecs invented this word during the Spaniard subjugation to describe their conflict in being forced to become "modernized".

Cartoon vs. Realism

The cartoon’s interaction with the masked woman is used to create a "nepantla", to capture the differences between the cartoon and her realistic cohort. While they both represent the human figure, they exist in different worlds. One world is classical where figures exist in shadows and highlights creating the illusion of the 3rd dimension. The other world is modern where the cartoon exist simply as outlines and simple color. Both rely on proportion; however one is perfected to represent real life, the other is distorted to represent imagination.

Women Struggle

"Nepantla" is my personal struggle to become a woman in modern environment dominated by popular media stereotypes, enduring and overcoming my own colonization of a pop art culture. I, intellectually, exist in this place of nepantla, and thru my current work, I hope to create and exhibit publicly an understanding of a modern women’s consciousness.

About My Cartoon, "Regalo"
"Regalo" is an important role for the Masked Woman Series. She is the original "Eve", a curious cultivator of mankind. Had not Eve ate of the apple and offered it to Adam, both woman and man would have remained children and never have become adults. Eve is responsible for all our freedom.  Please read the Story of Adam and Eve at wikipedia.com

More Images from the Masked Woman Series...