Marisol Ruiz
Irizarry
2020
Oil and Acrylic on canvas
42 x 32 inches
Purchase
Statement
My paintings are collages of inherited memories, framed like a photograph, by symbols of post-colonial history. I grew up in Güayanilla, Puerto Rico, a place consumed by the remnants of the colonial labors of sugarcane production. My paintings combine both personal and collective memories tied within the space of post-colonization. I am drawn to critique colonialism’s unexpected intimacy. As its power controls our language, decor, and architecture. In Puerto Rico, a large overly decorated house signifies power and wealth, appearances speak louder than reality. I make oil and acrylic paintings on canvas and panel. The paintings are punctuated with domestic colonial signifiers: tiles, rococo furnishing, mundillo (bobbin lace), and stained glass: My family’s fragile facade of success. The painted frames reference familial photographic sources. Gold paint is ever-present as a way to reference German porcelain, which has become a decor staple in my family. The vibrant, pastel colors reference local architecture. I paint in remembrance of my father, grandparents, and uncles whose lives had been forcefully structured by post-coloniality. These paintings are fragmented depictions of stories that should not be forgotten
Painting (BFA) Students
Qingxin Meng - not exhibiting
Shirley Ng - not exhibiting
Sophia Wilson - not exhibiting
Vicky Shao - not exhibiting
Zhenrui Yang - not exhibiting
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