"Agüeybaná"

This body of work is a representation of my understanding, and experience with my ethnicity and identity. I am Puerto Rican, born and raised, I am also a devout catholic. Indigenous Taino culture is something that has always been celebrated and discussed throughout my life, and growing up on the Island made me feel a strong connection to the Taino, since it is synonymous and very much engrained with Puerto Rican culture. It wasn’t until later when I moved to Atlanta, Georgia that my perspective about what I knew and what I was taught changed. I began to question whether it is ok to celebrate an aspect of your culture if it is tied to the cause of its absence. The Spanish empire took over the former Borinquen from the indigenous people. Catholicism, Spanish customs, culture, architecture, etc. made its way by force onto the island and in turn we were left with what we know today to be the island of Puerto Rico and its residences. My work is critiquing the influences of my personal identity, Catholicism, and Spanish culture, and the negative underlying effects that has had on my understanding of my cultural roots. These influences and beliefs that I continue to cultivate need to be questioned and discussed, rather than left alone due to fear of sounding sacrilegious or blasphemous. Using ceramic knowledge and cultural iconography from both Spanish and Taino culture, I have been able to make visual idols and artifacts that open the conversation and talk about these influences and how it has affected other people as well. And of course, the work continues to celebrate the Taino culture and sheds light to the unfortunate eradication and indoctrination of its people.

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