THE HOME I NEVER KNEW: NI DE AQUÍ, NI DE ALLÁ
June 7 - November 1, 2024
Greenville Museum of Art | West Wing & Commons Galleries
Rachel Gaona
“I emphasize to them the importance of recognizing and embracing our unique cultural blend, which makes us blessed to live in such a beautiful place with a rich mix of traditions.”
Trilocal
2024
acrylic on canvas
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an experienced artist born in the United States with Mexican roots and a direct connection to Puerto Rican culture, I have created a painting that beautifully encapsulates the complexity of my cultural journey and my diverse heritage. At the heart of the painting, a figure stands, embodying the essence of borderlessness. Her features drawn from Mexican influences. Behind her a landscape unfolds, merging elements of each origin – the arid deserts of Mexico, the bustling skyscraper and buildings of America, and the waves crashing from the shores of Puerto Rico, symbolizing the ever-flowing tide of cultural exchange and the dynamic nature of identity. From the experience of creating this painting From the experience of creating this painting I have decided to name it Trilocal: the element of being rooted in once place, having origins in another, and feeling a deep emotional connection to yet another I hope to capture the essence of displacement and the internal struggle to reconcile multiple identities, suspending between neither fully belonging nor entirely detached. Through this painting I invite you to contemplate the fluidity of identity and the universal human experience of searching for belonging. It serves as a testament to the beauty of cultural diversity and the richness that emerges when boundaries are transcended.
DECLARACIÓN DEL ARTISTA
Como artista experta nacida en los Estados Unidos con raíces mexicanas y una conexión directa con la cultura puertorriqueña, he creado un cuadro que encierra bellamente la complejidad de mi trayectoria cultural y mi herencia diversa. En el centro del cuadro hay una figura que encarna la ausencia de fronteras. Sus características son de influencias mexicanas. Detrás de ella, se revela un paisaje que mezcla elementos de cada origen: los áridos desiertos de México, los ajetreados rascacielos y edificios de Estados Unidos, y las olas que se estrellan de las costas de Puerto Rico, que simbolizan la marea que siempre fluye del intercambio cultural y la vigorosa índole de la identidad. Desde la experiencia de crear este cuadro, he decidido llamarlo el Trilocal: elemento de tener raíces en un lugar, orígenes en otro y sentir una conexión emocional profunda con uno más. Espero captar la esencia del desplazamiento y la lucha interna para reconciliar identidades múltiples, suspendida entre no pertenecer totalmente ni estar completamente desconectada. Por medio de este cuadro, te invito a contemplar la fluidez de la identidad y la experiencia humana universal de buscar pertenecer. Sirve como testamento de la belleza de la diversidad cultural y la riqueza que aflora cuando se trascienden las fronteras.
INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTIST | ENTREVISTA CON LA ARTISTA
Where were you born? Are you a first-generation American? Hi, my name is Rachel Gaona, and I am the artist behind the painting “Trilocal.” I was born in Charlottesville, VA, and raised in Wilson, NC, since I was 8 years old. As one of two siblings born in America out of five, I witnessed firsthand the constant struggle of feeling foreign in a country where we didn’t fully dominate the language or culture. As a first-generation American with parents from Guerrero, Mexico, my work is deeply influenced by my diverse cultural background.
What is your connection to Puerto Rican culture? My connection to Puerto Rico is through my children, who are of mixed heritage and have developed a strong sense of pride here.
Can you explain the significance of the city, mountains, and water in your painting? “Trilocal” embodies this journey. The mountains on the left represent Mexico, the cities on the right symbolize America, and the sea signifies Puerto Rico. The woman in the middle, standing directly under an Aztec calendar, represents the deep symbolism of my Mexican heritage. She looks towards America, where she was born, yet feels the pull of her Mexican roots and the immersion in Puerto Rican culture. It is the constant struggle of belonging everywhere and nowhere simultaneously.
What does it mean to be trilocal to you? Trilocal" is inspired by the phrase “Ni de aquí, ni de allá,” reflecting my Mexican roots, American upbringing, and Puerto Rican connections.
How do you stay connected to your Mexican roots while living in the South, especially in North Carolina? This piece captures the feeling of belonging everywhere yet being directly tied nowhere. To Mexicans, I am Chicana; to Americans, I am Mexican; and to Puerto Ricans, my children are Mexi-bori. I strive to stay connected to my heritage by sharing my culture through food in Puerto Rico, breaking stereotypes and forming new bonds. Living in North Carolina, I was deeply connected to my Mexican culture, surrounded by Latinos, which lessened the feeling of distance from my roots.
What was one memorable childhood experience from your cultures? A defining childhood memory is the rich culinary traditions that highlight the cultural gap when you move away. Visiting Mexico to see family, I experienced a relaxed lifestyle, free from the constant noise of cities and deadlines.
How do you stay attached to your cultures? I emphasize to them the importance of recognizing and embracing our unique cultural blend, which makes us blessed to live in such a beautiful place with a rich mix of traditions.