In my experience, being Mexican is synonymous with being a perpetual seeker. To be Mexican is to embrace a constant journey of emptiness and exploration. It is through cumbia that this sensation truly envelopes me, and I sense that I have unearthed a small fragment of what defines my identity. This sense of belonging goes far beyond a passport, transcending geographical boundaries, the place of birth, or where I was raised. It transcends the languages I do or don't speak, the colloquialisms I’ve picked up, or my culinary preferences. It resides deep within the soul and the body. It feels like a revelation, a connection to an intrinsic part of myself.
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The personal and artistic journey that I have been on can be described as a profound experience of identity, culture, and the complex interplay between the individual and their heritage. I discovered a narrative that delves into the depths of my own experiences, shedding layers of identity and exposing the intricate web of my cultural inheritances.
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It began with cumbia, a genre of music that transformed from a distant, harsh memory into a nostalgic one, symbolizing the connection to my roots and the evolving relationship with my past. This transformation mirrors my own evolution, as I navigate the borderlands between Mexico and the United States, a place of dispossession and struggle.
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My experience is not singular. It is shared between fronterizas across the globe, for we know that music shapes such a large part of our sense of self and our culture that transcend borders. Music is the symbol of our voices and movements of resistance and self-identification, providing us- the dispossessed- with a sense of belonging.
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This journey is a testament to the power of art and culture in shaping identity and fostering a deeper understanding of the self and the world. It underscores the importance of questioning, exploring, and embracing the multifaceted nature of our heritage, and how it shapes not only us as individuals but the broader narratives of culture and belonging.
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Moving forward, I think it essential that I remain true to my philosophy of taking time to let my body arrive wherever it is that I am. I know that I will be doing more research into Latin American theory and politics, and hopefully take my work to these countries for feedback and discourse. I am particularly interested in reading and seeing the work of Latin American artists and theorists and also connecting with other border artists around the world. I can sense that this journey is a lifelong journey and I have only just experienced the first few pages.