El Flujo de Extracciones

Is the title of a series of gouache works on paper done with cochineal dye. The vibrant purples, pinks, orange, and reds are a result of the oxidation during the application process of the natural cochineal dye which is extracted from the tiny insect that attach and survive on the surface of the prickly pear cactus pads in the form of a white fungus. The insects’ historic use as a vibrant red dye is rooted in Latin American history and has been exported since the time of the Aztecs
throughout Europe and the world. Extracciones is used as a common term to refer to the extraction of natural resources by the American oil and mining industry in Latin American countries. The amorphic forms on paper are reminiscent of human truncated torsos or geographical spaces that map out a colonial terrain. This body of work includes cochineal gouache and border patrol uniform fabric collage placing the physical, cultural, and spiritual extractions of our immigrant communities at the center of this artwork.