The pandemic gave me a unique opportunity to connect with my dad. I've always felt our bond could be better, more involved. I do not know where he lives, where he sleeps or where he has his morning breakfast. I don't know the names of the strange family members he's growing older with. These mysteries persist, and yet, I still get a chance to discover him a little better. Me being his first born, I felt special when he trusted me with something significant during the pandemic. I pay tribute to him with this piece, not as the man he's been, but as the honorable father he's developing into and the man he's helped me become. He had me at such a young age, and inexperience breeds mistakes in order to distill true growth and evolution.
I never wanted to listen to him when he told me to connect with my culture. I didn't like him telling me what my art should be about. But after all these years of reflection and introspection, I realize he always had a point. It is crucial that we discover who we are by exploring where we came from. Who were our ancestors? In this watercolor painting, I depict myself as a 1 year old with my 23 year old dad, based on my favorite photo of us. Only this time, we are fully embracing our roots as indigenous caretakers of our land as he holds me close.
The title of this piece is Tahtli, the Nahuatl translation for father.
