MNEMONIC LANDSCAPES (2003)

Mnemonic Landscapes consists of a twenty-two feet corridor constructed with drywall where on each of its facing walls is a contour drawing resembling the shape of two volcanoes, and a video projection.The drawings are made with human hair which has been stitched to the surface of the walls. The contour of each volcano resembles the shape of El Popocateptl and El Iztacihuatl*, two volcanoes located in the central valley of Mexico, each one sewn/drawn by memory. The corridor drawings are accompanied by a video and a sound piece. The video records the movement through the pass between the two volcanoes, know as "El Paso de Cortez"* and features the ambient sound from the location.

This installation explores myths and legends that have been pivotal in the construction of a Mexican national identity.

*This site " El Paso de Cortez" and the two volcanoes, are an important symbols in the creation of Mexico, this valley and the pass between these two volcanoes is where Spaniards and Aztecs met for the first time. Moreover the two volcanoes were also important symbols in pre hispanic Mexico, particularly interesting is their representation of gender roles, were the active volcano" El Popocateptl" is male and the passive one " El Iztacihuatl' is female.

Installation view at the RedHead Gallery, Ontario.