Somos Nahuatl Pipíl.
‘Temaquixtiliztli’ is an art series of three-generations of womxn born in San Salvador, El Salvador, Central America. The work captures journeys of liberation and resilience from 1915 – 2019.
Photo by Jesica Vasquez. A capture of a work in progress before installation.
This art series are personal illustrations of mi Abuelita Narcisa Barrera Zavaleta, mi Tia Teresa de Jesus y yo misma, Lilliana Carolina Castro (she/her/ella).
The artwork holds space for the important roles womxn had in my upbringing, my immigration journey to the United States, the efforts and sacrifices of those who held high commanding positions in the FMLN (Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional) to pave the way to Liberation. The artwork serves as high contrast to the lack of womxn visibility in El Salvador, and the lack of women’s rights as it continues to be a an oppressive country for womxn and LGBTQ folks, our identities and our opportunities. El Salvador continues to the present day to reinforce traditional gender roles as a means to control and kill us.
TEMAQUIXTILIZTLI
Silkscreen on Sandstorm Cardstock from Temaquixtiliztli Series:
Abuelita Narcisa Barrera
b.1915
Silkscreen on Burlap 01 from Temaquixtiliztli Series:
Abuelita Narcisa Barrera
b.1915
The materials used in the prints are burlap for the canvas, which represents the fertile soil of my land and the coffee crop exploitation of the country. The multidirectional line patterns represent the U.S. military presence, its money and contribution to the Civil War, in which 75,000+ people were killed and 1.5 million people displaced from El Salvador. The color red is in solidarity with all those who fought in the FMLN movement and revolt against the ruling dictatorship of 1932, in which La Matanza occurred. It is said 30,000+ indigenous people were massacred once identified through wearing our traditional dress and speaking our native language.
LIBERACIÓN
Silkscreen on Sandstorm Cardstock from Temaquixtiliztli Series:
Tia Teresa de Jesus
b.1941
Silkscreen on Burlap 02 from Temaquixtiliztli Series:
Tia Teresa de Jesus
b.1941
The title ranges from our native Nahuatl Language (Pipíl) Temaquixtiliztli - to Spanish as colonization invades our communities, Liberación - to English as the quest for freedom is sought through immigration to different lands, Liberation.
One of the main drivers for creating this work is to create visibility for queer identities, womxn and the Salvadoran diaspora. As of 2021 the U.S. Census reports an estimated 463, 000+ Salvadorans reside in Los Angeles County.
LIBERATION
Silkscreen on Sandstorm Cardstock from Temaquixtiliztli Series:
Lilliana Castro
b.1983
Silkscreen on Burlap 03 from Temaquixtiliztli Series:
Lilliana Castro
b.1983
This project was exhibited in 2019 as part of a group exhibition, Liberación: From Volcanoes to Hope organized as ¡Chévere!
It was also covered by Annette Lin, ‘We’re Taking Up Space”: Salvadoran Women Artists Shape a New Identity’ and featured on Hyperallergic in 2021. You can read the full article here.
All work was hand-made in Los Angeles, California with 50% of all proceeds will donated to Organizations working with Immigrant Families from El Salvador, C.A.