Engaños

CLAMP
247 West 29th Street, NYC
July 8 - September 9, 2023

My photography project, “Engaños” (Spanish for “deceptions” or “illusions”), draws inspiration from Joris-Karl Huysmans’ 1884 literary classic “Against the Grain,” which explores themes of individuality, nonconformity, and authenticity.

The novel, a seminal work of decadent literature, centers on Jean des Esseintes, a reclusive aesthete who attempts to create a perfect, artificial world for himself. As part of his experiment, he collects artificial flowers that appear to be natural. Later, as his intellectual curiosity progresses, Des Esseintes starts seeking out natural flowers that appear to have been artificially made. My project takes this concept a step further by presenting flowers as optical illusions, blurring the line between reality and representation.

Through the use of trompe l'oeil and visual tricks, I aim to challenge traditional notions of beauty by presenting flowers in unexpected and unconventional contexts. By placing these delicate, natural subjects in corrugated cardboard boxes, I create a sense of contrast that speaks to the themes of the novel—transforming an inexpensive and common material into something beautiful. The rough, industrial material of the boxes serves as a foil for the delicate beauty of the flowers, challenging the viewer to consider the relationship between the natural world and the man-made.

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The project also touches on the theme of our relationship with truth and how technology affects the way we see and interact with the world. By presenting these photographs as two-dimensional works that appear to be three-dimensional, I explore the ways in which photography can both create illusions and distort our perception.

While technology has the potential to be a powerful tool for solving complex problems, it also raises a number of concerns. Since entering the digital era, people have engaged with technology in a way that calls into question what is real and what is not. As a result, the world is facing new challenges, so I wanted to work on a project that addressed our relationship with truth and how it's linked to what we see, perceive, or experience—but without using any sophisticated technology. Instead, I use simple techniques to add a layer of illusion and playfulness to each piece, inviting the viewer to engage with the artwork on a deeper level.

I read “Against the Grain” when I was coming to terms with my queerness and it resonated with me in ways that are hard to describe. For queer people, authenticity is important because many of us struggle to come out. That process teaches us that in order to be happy we must also be truthful. With this project, I turn the notion of truthfulness on its head.

Techniques & Materials
The unique beauty and characteristics of flowers symbolize individuality, diversity, and authenticity. I use corrugated boxes as a representation of the creative process, elevating this inexpensive and common material into something beautiful. With the help of photography, I aim to trick the viewer, even if only for a moment, into believing the flowers are real.

All artworks are pigment prints on gesso-coated aluminum which have been mounted onto a museum box in order to create a seamless effect. Each photograph is printed to scale to match the flowers and box used to display the flower arrangement in real life.

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