NATALIA CUEVAS

I was born and raised in Chicago and come from a primarily Hispanic neighborhood in the heart of the city. My transition from such an urban environment to Ann Arbor was a significant culture shock that has influenced my own sense of self and embracement of my identity as a minority student. I now seek to explore my cultural upbringing and heritage in the hopes of educating and empowering the public. My work continues to combine horror and fantasy to pose questions of human nature and our aggressive, and brutal tendencies. My interest in darkness has intensified since being introduced to the human psyche, specifically within children, and I have since integrated this theme with cultural symbolism and iconography.

 

Given the current political climate, I am interested in creating art that serves as a form of cultural education and interactive exploration of marginalized communities. I am greatly influenced by Mexican culture and Mexican imagery, particularly within celebratory acts, death rituals, and religious holidays. My work seeks to make light of the madness that resides within subconscious minds and examines the uncertainties and fears that exist within us. I think of my pieces as dark and somewhat unsettling, but reflective of the delicacy and beauty of the human mind and body. I wish to foster a sense of intimacy within my work to establish a sense of community, while questioning the human condition and enabling social change. I hope to continue with interactive and socially engaging work that encourages multicultural education. I truly believe in the power of creative fields in their empowerment of self-exploration and identity based work, but also understand the importance of engaging in a dialogue to allow for learning opportunities and exposures to different identities.