Ancestral Gold II

22.75 x 50 inches

Collage with Linoleum Block Elements on Hanji

2024

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Maiz is a key, sacred staple that has sustained people throughout the region we now call Latin America for generations. Our connection to corn runs deep—it nourishes us, shapes our culture, and carries our history. It is the foundation of our tortillas, tamales, and the traditional foods that have existed long before colonization.

But corn is also a battleground. Monsanto has long sought control over its seeds, and while Mexico successfully fought them off, that victory is now under threat. The company has sued Mexico, putting indigenous food sovereignty at risk once again.

Many indigenous groups, including the Zapatistas, have fiercely protected corn, recognizing its sacredness in the fight to preserve culture. The corn seed is not just food—it is resistance, identity, and survival.

This series of pieces honors the sacred nature of corn. It is designed to resemble a manta or weaving, a textile tradition deeply rooted in my Peruvian heritage. These are large-scale works, created using linoleum block patterns, embodying both tradition and struggle, nourishment and defiance.