Puerto Rican Arts and Culture Challenging Colonial Concepts
We are exploring the art of my heritage by taking a walk-through
modern-day Puerto Rico. I want this project to be authentic to the island of
Puerto Rico and exploring artists that deserve more recognition from the very
commonwealth! Puerto Rico’s rich history began long before Columbus stumbled
upon Puerto Rico and sparked centuries of conquest and colonialism. The
original inhabitants of the island are referred to as the Taino (an indigenous
group of people that lived on the island before conquest took over). There are descendants
of Taino tribes that still live on the island today, however, not in the same
numbers they once were. Spain ruled over Puerto Rico for a few centuries until they
conceded to the United States in 1898, following the Spanish-American war.
Since 1898, Puerto Rico has been known as a commonwealth of the United States.
Puerto Rican ethnicities are unique in the Caribbean with Afro-Caribbean,
Spanish, and other influences as the island went through periods of conquest.
The rich arts and culture have expanded throughout Puerto
Rico with vibrant colors, dance, flavorful food, and a strong sense of community.
For this exhibit we are going to explore The Happy Volcano of Sighs, Graffiti
Art, and traditional clothing. Every detail from the colors and curation of the
designs were made by Puerto Rican artists. Contemporary art can come in myriad
forms when you explore culture as it is. Hurricane Maria created devastating
effects across the commonwealth in 2017 that are still seen across the island
today in 2022. Let’s explore these art mediums together!
The Happy Volcano of Sighs utilizes negative
space, bright contrast, and texture create a story of how the island is a
construct of invisible identities. Both the people and the clock expressed in
the painting are created entirely of negative space. The negative space is
contrasted with white lines. It appears as if time has created a conglomeration
of identities that are not recognized by outsiders (possibly a metaphor for the
United States). The background around the human figures is contrasted with
bright but somber colors with hues of blue, purple, and orange. The quirky
shapes of contrast around the negative space figures create this sense of
anxiety and uncertainty as they express nothing less than a sigh. Finally, although
this is a painting, the texture appears to almost be soft in the middle until
you get to the figures that appear they would feel like chipped wood. The white
contrasting from the negative space figures makes me ponder if there are pieces
of their identity that are invisible to others. The invisible space may be the
chunks of identity that artist wants outsiders to be able to see. These
expressions and negative space figures are the volcanic eruption. Volcanic
eruptions are abrupt, destructive, and of course packed with heat. As the name
suggests, this a volcano of “happy” individuals that appear to be invisible to
the viewer with less than happy expressions as the clock ticks by.
Graffiti art is its own art form that is common on many
streets in various countries. However, the vibrant graffiti art in Puerto Rico has
grown in popularity since the devastating hit of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Graffiti
art is expressed by various artists throughout the island, yet there is a popular
street that is reserved for vibrant and unique street art. The piece that I chose
was captured in 2017 in the Santurace neighborhood. This graffiti piece utilizes
a bright color palette, 3D dimensional lines to create illusions, and contrast.
The bright colors are visible from a distance and are made with the intent to
divert your attention to the art. Multiple colors are utilized throughout the entirety
of the graffiti mural. This color palette gives the viewer multiple points to
divert their eyes and enjoy the multi-dimensional art. The 3-dimensional lines
create illusions that add depth of the central face figure by adding two pairs
of eyes and various patterns. The contrast is defined by the multiple patterns
on different walls. The art has stripes with a lady painted over them on the top
of the building, a neutral background behind a purple face, and a geometric
square based pattern that both compliment and contrast each other on different
walls. These different patterns express the diversity of art and happiness
found in vibrancy across the island. Tatiana Ramos observed that, “52 percent
of its population is living under the poverty line after Hurricane María, many
have looked to this kind of artistic expression to rebel, create, and heal”
(2021). These graffiti pieces are made for the community to enjoy free of cost
while creating unique art over architecture that became bleak due to hurricane
Maria devastation. A vibrant landscape exists to inspire a new generation of
Puerto Ricans to challenge modern outcomes of colonialism.
La Blusa ya Falda is not a traditional art form (painting or sculpture) however it still explores the art elements through color, texture, and depth. The colors are specifically representative of the cultural roots explained previously with accents that will present as the red, white, and blue seen on the Puerto Rican flag. The soft cotton is great for high intensity dancing and allowing space for air to flow during rhythmic movements. The depth of the dress is defined by the thickness of the material that allows for flexible movements and a unique sway of the skirt when on the dance floor. A seamstress will create this dress with care and precision toa accurately express the cultural roots that are significant to the island itself.
In conclusion, Puerto Rican art is versatile and lively. The
colonialization of Puerto Rico leading to the cascading outcomes from hurricane
Maria, has inspired a new significance for Puerto Rican artists to create. The
solidarity of the Puerto Rican community is greatly expressed through the
various forms of art found throughout the island. Rivera-Santana stipulates, “However,
contemporary art’s versatility in showing the complex story of PR post
hurricane is likely to be a reason for a significantly greater expressive surge”
(2020). The graffiti art Puerto Rican architecture is exposed to may be
controversial to some, but a therapeutic transition to a colorful and restored
community with a universal medium. If you would love to indulge in more
information about local museums in Puerto Rico, you can explore the hyperlink
(espanol only).
Rivera-Santana is a researcher based in New York City for Hunter College in the Puerto Rican studies program. Their contribution to the understanding of colonization and art is important work that highlights where Americans often overlook the versality of Puerto Rican art. Rivera-Santa dictates, “This disaster [Maria] will continue to provoke Puerto Rican expressions until the complex story of colonization and its relationship with disaster is fully encoded into a discursive space that can produce change” (2020). The cascading effects of neglect and lack of immediate resources was not a coincidence, as a commonwealth is expected to be provided for by the country who controls its financial resource. Art will continue to be a fantastic medium to defend Puerto Rico and ignite change for a better future for Puerto Rico (that is long overdue after centuries of conquest).
I do appreciate graffiti art and I think it can elevate architecture even though so may disagree. I always enjoyed photographing graffiti art when I lived back home in the Bronx in New York City. Secondly, I would own a painting such as the The Happy Volcano Sighs as its obscurity is appealing to my taste in art. Thirdly, I appreciate seeing traditional clothing during dance performances as I feel close ties to communities for your ethnicity is significant for representation. Thanks for taking this trip to Puerto Rico with me.
References
Brittanica Kids. (2012). Bomba. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/bomba/633682#
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. (2007). The Happy Volcano of Sighs. Museo de Arte de puerto rico. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-happy-volcano-of-sighs-rafael-villamil/IAFRT02UPrP3Aw?hl=en
Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico. “Museo De Arte Contemporáneo De Puerto Rico.” Museomac.org, https://www.museomac.org/.
Ramos, Tatiana Mena. “Let's Talk about Urban Art in Puerto Rico.” BELatina, 3 June 2022, https://belatina.com/urban-art-puerto-rico/.
Reference.Com. “What Is the Traditional Dress of Puerto Rico like?” Reference, IAC Publishing, 2020, https://www.reference.com/world-view/traditional-dress-puerto-rico-like-ae63e465b6092acd.
Rivera-Santana, Carlos. “Aesthetics of Disaster as
Decolonial Aesthetics: Making Sense of the Effects of Hurricane María through
Puerto Rican Contemporary Art.” Cultural Studies, vol. 34, no. 3, May 2020, pp.
341–62. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.uaf.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/09502386.2019.1607519.
Santos, Mariela. “A Grafitti-Lover's Tour of San Juan, Puerto Rico.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip, 8 May 2017, https://theculturetrip.com/caribbean/puerto-rico/articles/a-grafitti-lovers-tour-of-san-juan-puerto-rico/.
No comments:
Post a Comment