Rodriguez Garcia Naranjo

My mom, who was born and raised in Perú, gave me my Peruano culture. It is something that has shaped me into the person I am and that I cherish and celebrate. Because most of my family lives in Perú, my mom is my main source of everything. She would surround my house with the colors, food, music, clothes, etc. Growing up in the United States of America has made it difficult to fully embrace my culture, and I relied on my mom, abuelita, and abuelito to show me the ways.

With the few times that I have gotten the chance to visit my abuelita in Perú, she fully embraces me by always spoiling me with items, ideas, religion, and aesthetics. My abuelita is a woman who is full of life and loves to make people smile. Her nickname is Azucena (lily) because her brother thought she looked like the flower when she was young. My abuelito, on the other hand, had passed away before I was born. He was a man that my mom cherishes and celebrates any chance she gets. He lives with me, in the cross that I wear around my neck. I believe he watches over me and protects me. His nickname was Rocky, after a famous boxer named Rocky Marciano. My abuelito was a strong man much like this boxer.

I created salt prints of my abuelita and abuelito showcasing how time and distance have erased my memory of them. I also created salt prints and salt with gum bichromate prints of me, my mom and our hands. We are both covered in a peruano poncho and are holding lily flowers. Our hands represent the hold my mom and I have on our culture and each other, pointing to the heavens and earth.