Myenna Ehsan
A young Chicana/ Latina girl is portrayed distressed and surronded with traditional representations of death: candles and marigolds. There is no text, no description, only a profile as the girl is unknown.
For years I have researched and have observed John/Jane Doe cases. One observation that has stuck with me through this exploration was the large number of Latinas and Chicanas that have not been identified. What amplifies this problem, however, is the lack of attention being given to the unidentified. Many of these women are found murdered, or even some dying while trying to cross the border for better lives, and yet no one really talks about them. When I think about the terror these women went through in their final moments, I can’t help but feel simply horrorfied and angered.
Through this work I wanted to remind people that there are Latinas and Chicanas that need to be identified and their pain understood. For years people have used visuals as a way to speak to a winder audience, art transcends language barriers. I believe that through art, one can present ideas and connect to a large group of people. I want to create a tribute to the lives that have been lost and unidentified.
For years I have researched and have observed John/Jane Doe cases. One observation that has stuck with me through this exploration was the large number of Latinas and Chicanas that have not been identified. What amplifies this problem, however, is the lack of attention being given to the unidentified. Many of these women are found murdered, or even some dying while trying to cross the border for better lives, and yet no one really talks about them. When I think about the terror these women went through in their final moments, I can’t help but feel simply horrorfied and angered.
Through this work I wanted to remind people that there are Latinas and Chicanas that need to be identified and their pain understood. For years people have used visuals as a way to speak to a winder audience, art transcends language barriers. I believe that through art, one can present ideas and connect to a large group of people. I want to create a tribute to the lives that have been lost and unidentified.
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