ARTIST STATEMENT:
Amanda is a first-generation Chicana artist who immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico. As a recent graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), she creates work that reflects the complexities of migration, indigeneity, and the inherited epigenetic that shaped her identity. Through a multidisciplinary approach, she explores the intersections of cultural identity, gender roles, and the silent expectations placed upon women in her community.
Film serves as the core of her practice, allowing her to capture personal histories alongside broader cultural narratives. She employs it to explore multiple perspectives, creating immersive, layered experiences that evoke the complexity of her lived experiences and those of her community and family.
Drawing inspiration from the visual language of Lucha Libre masks, Amanda uses them as a metaphor to explore the duality of the roles women in her culture are expected to play. These masks, often constructed from a mix of leather, lace, and vibrant textiles, symbolize the expectations placed on women to hide their true selves and maintain a facade of perfection and strength.
Growing up immersed in Chicano culture, Amanda witnessed the resilience of working-class families, the sting of racial prejudice, and the sanctuaries of the community , for example places like Chicano Park in San Diego and Pilsen in Chicago. These spaces are more than locations; they are living testaments to an enduring spirit. Amanda believe’s our culture breathes through the murals that adorn our streets, the lowriders that cruise our avenues, and the sacredness of our homes. They remind us that even when we cannot return to our ancestral land, we plant roots wherever we stand.
Location plays a pivotal role in her films. She often fragments and reassembles elements of familiar places to construct portraits of the people she loves. These locations are not mere backdrops; they are integral to the narrative, embodying the essence of the stories she tells. By weaving together these fragments, she captures the multifaceted nature of identity and community.
Through her work, Amanda aims to unravel the unspoken agreements passed down through generations, creating space for dialogue, reflection, and liberation. By layering her personal history with broader cultural and spiritual narratives, she challenges and redefines the roles that have been imposed upon women in her family and culture, creating an opportunity for a new narrative to emerge.