Forces of Nature
Artist
Maria del Pilar ArrietaMedium
PaintingMaterial
Oil PaintDescription
This painting emphasizes glimpses of life, sociocultural experiences, and diaspora within the communities that I am part of in contemporary culture. In this work, a female portrait appears to float above the ocean while becoming submerged within a setting of patterns and geometric forms. I draw from references in modern geometric abstraction, as well as the visual languages, forms, and symbols found in pre-Columbian art. The painting functions as a form of storytelling, narrating experiences that highlight survival and resistance through cultural traditions. It reflects the feeling of being immersed within American culture while maintaining connections to inherited histories and memories. This ambiguity challenges certain ideas of Western cultural narratives, creating an awareness of the tension and uncertainty surrounding identity, belonging, and displacement.Try it!
