- Much of Amaya Avila’s work is heavily rooted in her identity as a Mexican American and my relationships with people and environments, as an extension of this, the piece entitled, Banda, is an artifact that depicts a family narrative. This project was provoked as Avila dialed her grandmother and asked, “What is your maiden name?”, the answer was not simple, but it highlighted this idea of identity within her family, both physically, on a birth certificate, but also what a name can mean when you grow up in a foreign place. Avila’s great grandfather immigrated to the United States when he was young, throughout his life, he never learned to read or write, he was placed in a foreign country, forced to learn a foreign language. He grew up without a relationship with his biological father, pride and searching for a belonging a foreign environment was the driving force of confused identity. The t-shirt is abundant with layers of Mexican culture, through the use of symbolic colors, black letter typography and the physicality of embroidery, which are prominent motifs in Mexican culture. Catholicism and name on the neckline of the garment has a personal connection to the artist, growing up as a practicing catholic, and how these relationships embody morals and identity.
- Inspiration:
Rosalinda Cavazos, 2018
3. How has the nameplate evolved from a culture of Latino tradition to the appropriation of a fashion trend within popular culture?
4. There is a strong connection to identity in religion, specifically Catholicism and pride in religion within the Mexican culture. In my paper, there is a central argument for the appropriation of Latin culture, wearing nameplates, gang affiliated tattoos, for the purpose of mass production within fashion trends and popular culture. So with the personal connection of identity (or mis-identity) within my family and the actual confusion of identity, this Banda-Ortega narrative adds an extra layer to pride and physically wearing your family’s name on a white t-shirt, a basic staple of wardrobe. The act of embroidering the piece lies within the traditional aspect of Mexican culture of embroidery and the expression of color, with all of these cultural aspects, the final product has become an article of clothing that could be owned by the masses.
5. Bridge 3: https://www.instagram.com/a1loveisasuperstar/
#IS2B3
6. Process Documentation:
