Pablo Gonzalez-Trejo

If what we are is based on the experiences we have lived, and the memories of these experiences mutate with time, then we are no more than just a metaphor of ourselves.

Natural Evolution
I have been producing these large-scale drawings of charcoal on canvas since 1997 using as the main underlying concept that if what we are is based on the experiences we have lived, and the memories of these experiences mutate with time, then we are no more than just a metaphor of ourselves. Based on this concept, each drawing was a carefully chosen image-icon representing past memories. These drawings were done with unfixed charcoal on canvas and were intended to keep falling off the surface of the canvas and disappearing gradually… as they have. My current projects are a natural evolution of my past works. The concept of disappearing memories and evolving identity continues, but with an expanded, global focus on the experiences and memories of others. The defacing act is in itself a metaphor for the fact that we really cannot erase or deny history and its consequences, as no matter how much paint is applied on top of the charcoal drawing, the
drawing will keep bleeding through. Many communities of immigrants dwell upon their memories from the past, which does not allow them to live full lives in the present. My proposed act of defacing—in effect, of committing civil disobedience—empowers the visitors to exorcize some of the frustrations from their past. This action requires people to think about their memories, and to consider how they relate to them, and possibly release some of that pent-up tension. I was gratified to see that this happened with my family members, and now I want to make this experience available to all the various communities of immigrants in our city.

Future
This project uses images of dictators from all over the world as icons to create a reflection of the various groups that are represented in our community, but it can be more than just about dictators and how we relate to their images and what they represent. As we know from our nation’s recent history, our terrorists are someone else’s heroes, and our current leaders are despised in many other countries. I envision for the future of this project to take it as a traveling experience to places like New York, Los Angeles, Kabul, Jerusalem and Baghdad, with images of our current leaders (George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Dick Cheney and others), who
have done so much to impair our relations with other countries and cultures. I believe that this project can be used to emphasize the role of art as a powerful weapon to help unify cultures and communities across America and abroad.