For this assignment, I had to create a visual backpack, or suitcase with three items including a memento, something that represents my past, a practical item, something I need in my present day and a future item, something that represents my future self.
With this in mind, I decided to create an actual backpack that I could use in a day to day basis. I used an off white canvas as my fabric for the backpack because I wanted to paint on top of it. The designs I painted on the backpack, are inspired by a Salvadoran Artist, Fernando Llort. When I first started brainstorming for this project, I thought about the meaning of a backpack, and for me, it is a personal object that you carry everywhere you go. So this is why I decided to paint his designs in my backpack, because even though the backpack will be traveling with me everywhere, I always want to have with me a part my home, El Salvador, and remind myself where I come from.
Apart from the backpack, I had to create three other items that represent my past, present and future self. For my past, I used wire, and designed a pair of spurs. Spurs are used by equestrians when horse back riding. I’ve been an equestrian my entire life until today, that I decided to focus on my career, so I consider my equestrian life, my past now.
For my present object, my intention was to be practical, so I created a metro card with construction paper and sharpie, and an outline of Manhattan with wire. I chose this because it is something I will need on a day to day basis for the next four years in my life. With this I will be able to meet new people, new places, explore, get inspired. I feel that a metro card is not only an actual pass for new destinations, but it is also a pass for inspiration and new adventures. I really enjoy metro rides because I am interested in seeing different people.
For my future item, I created my “future passport” with cork, and cut and pasted stamps of all the places I would want to visit, and have visited when I am older. Traveling for me is something very important, I’ve traveled a lot since I was a little girl and it is something I will continue to do over the years. I believe that traveling is the best education.
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