Con cariño siempre: Ariana Enriquez

Within the Mexican culture, there is believed to be two deaths–the first is when you physically pass away and the second is when you have been forgotten by the living. Wanting to preserve the legacy of the strong women in her family, muralist and artist, Ariana Enriquez set out to tell their stories in the best way she knew how— through her artwork. However, in order to truly celebrate these women, she would need to first delve deeper into her family’s history. Armed with pen and paper, Enriquez sat down at her Yoya’s (great aunt) table with her relatives. Her family members shared some truly incredible stories about the acts of service, kindness, and compassion that have been passed down through the generations. So often, people want to discuss generational trauma, but what about generational joy and the positivity and unity that can be passed down through the generations? This undercurrent of love and strength is something that Enriquez had felt her whole life but never quite understood how it had manifested in her family. It was then that she realized that these acts of love are the bedrock of her familial bonds.

For Con cariño siempre, Enriquez creates a visual love letter to her family. Drawing from her practice of using fauna and flora as symbolism, Enriquez created large scale installations that not only celebrate the women in her family but also highlight the love languages expressed throughout the years. By visually telling the stories of her ancestors, Enriquez aims to keep their memories alive long after they are gone.