A los Bosques Me Interno Yo

En los Bosques Me Interno Yo, 2014
Cochineal, blood, oil, acrylic and clear polymer on canvas

24”x24”

En los Bosques Me Interno Yo is a work deeply rooted in the exploration of inherited pain, a theme that has long resonated with me as an autistic artist. The piece takes its title from the Peruvian chicha song by Los Destellos, a song that carries with it the echoes of my parents' immigrant experience and the cultural heritage they passed down to me. The lyrics, which speak to the pain of solitude, the scars left by love, and the haunting persistence of memory, serve as both an inspiration and a framework for this piece.

In creating this work, I was particularly focused on the concept of inherited pain—emotional wounds passed down through generations, which I feel deeply despite never having fully experienced love myself. As someone who is autistic, my understanding of love is not drawn from personal experience or limerence, but rather from a more abstract, almost inherited knowledge of its complexities and the pain it can cause. This understanding informs the ambiguity of the figures in the painting, who are caught in a dreamlike landscape of roses, each bloom representing both the beauty and the thorns of love and melancholic memory.

The materials I chose—oil paint, cochineal, and my own blood—are significant to this exploration. The cochineal connects the work to my Andean heritage, while the blood introduces a deeply personal, corporeal element, reflecting the visceral nature of the pain and emotion that I seek to convey. The use of these materials also allows me to bridge the gap between my personal narrative and the broader cultural discourse on identity, memory, and the immigrant experience.

Through "En los Bosques Me Interno Yo," I aim to explore the ways in which pain and love are understood, remembered, and inherited across generations, particularly within the context of cultural identity. This piece is not only a reflection of my personal experiences and inherited memories but also a broader commentary on how our identities are shaped by the landscapes—both emotional and cultural—that we inherit.

Athena Quispe