johnathon alejandro arce

 I am both the assimilator and the assimilated. The blending of European and Latin American culture dates back to colonialism and its repercussions continue to this day; I question where I fit into this dynamic. As a child, I was influenced by a book on Mayan and Aztec art, and as a teenager, my interest shifted toward graffiti. Because of these influences, my imagery hovers between the figurative and abstract, formal and symbolic. There is an improvisational nature to the shapes I am creating and they always begin with a circle and develop into a structure that resembles a rhizome. The background shifts between positive and negative space. The shapes’ organic flow creates a narrative. The titles guide the viewer into the meanings I wish to convey. I implement a range of mediums including acrylic, vinyl, oil, spray paint, and silkscreen. My exploration of these different mediums is a result of me constantly searching for an identity. Every choice I make in my work is to help me understand myself and who I am. I am German, Spainish, Mexican, and American; a mix, a mut.