Mnemonic Landscapes

9:46 mins | One video channel installation

Description

Mnemonic Landscapes explores the construction of cultural and gender identities as symbolically and mnemonically represented in a Mexican landmark known as el Paso de Cortés, the site where Spaniards and Mexicas met for the first time in times of the conquest. El Paso de Cortés is located in the central valley of Mexico and two volcanoes, Iztacihuatl and Popocateptl, flank it. Iztacihuatl is an inactive volcano and is known as female. Popocateptl is an active volcano and is known as male.

The piece consists of a twenty-two feet corridor constructed with drywall where on each of its facing walls is a contour drawing resembling the shape of each one of the volcanos. The drawings are made with human air that has been stitched to the surface of the walls. The video records the movement through el Paso de Cortés, and features the ambient sound from the location. The video records the movement through el Paso de Cortés, and features the ambient sound from the location.

CREDITS

Project: Gabriela Aceves Sepúlveda
Camera, Sound and Edit: Gabriela Aceves Sepúlveda