36” x 40”
Spray paint, ink, acrylic on raw canvas
2024
Inspired by the voice and powerful words of Yesika Salgado, this piece is a celebration of the complicated and important relationship a woman has with herself. In reference to Salgado’s poem called Corazón Heals Herself, the prominent image of a large heart is the focal point of this piece. In other videos, Salgado explains that while the word corazón means heart in Spanish, it’s also a term of endearment meant to identify herself. This inspiring way of looking at oneself as one’s own heart prompted the artist to wonder what it would be like to imagine our own souls being directly linked to our most vital life-giving organ - the idea that we would cease to exist without our beating heart from a practical perspective but also that we may cease to love unless we're able to truly love ourselves.
Surrounded by the words “you” and “love”, the heart imagery in this piece is overwhelming, bold, bright and loud as the artist drives home the message that the viewer is his/her/their own love, and that the love we have for ourselves sets the pace at which we live our lives and dictates whether or not we’re able to receive love from others or able to give it freely.
The smaller images of heart-shaped grenades are copies of the artist’s early illustration work, Love Is A Battlefield, originally intended to represent the fear and danger that comes with giving one’s heart away, but has now been repurposed in this painting to represent how a lack of love for oneself is destructive.
This painting is a reminder to viewers that we are our greatest loves, and that the rejection and pain caused by others is unpleasant and unwanted, but at the end of the day, we walk through this life on our own, with our own hearts, and the way we speak to ourselves and show up for ourselves can be damaging or it can be expansive, empowering and joyful.
Listen to Yesika Salgado’s poem Corazón Heals Herself here.
Buy Yesika Salgago’s book, Corazón here.
The VOICES (That’s What She Said) collection is a celebration of the way women have used their words and voices to empower themselves and others. This collection was exhibited as an audio-visual immersive experience at the McMaster research-based performance LIVELab theater in Hamilton, Ontario during Hamilton Arts Week in which the theater was converted into a gallery space where original works of art were displayed in tandem with streaming audio featuring the recorded voice of the original woman speaker.
The chatter of all the voices over the speakers at once created a sense of chaos and confusion, prompting attendees to ask themselves the questions: Whose voices are you giving your attention to? Whose voices deserve more or less attention? How do you discern who you’re listening to when confronted with an overwhelming amount of noise? In a time when social media and mainstream media has the potential to distract from the important messages that women are eager to share with the public, the VOICES (That’s What She Said) audio-visual immersive exhibition acts as a physical reenactment of the media platforms in which women’s voices are either being elevated or dismissed, depending on the audience.
At the risk of overpowering the valuable and impactful messages behind each woman’s monologue, speech or poetry, the artist has decided to depart from her usual format of accompanying her original pieces with poetry of her own, and instead is focusing on communicating the intention behind each work as it was inspired by the words of another woman.
The artist highly encourages the viewer to listen to the original speaker’s voice as she delivers the words she is speaking to a public audience, and where possible, links to purchase the original speaker’s work are provided. By choosing to listen to the words spoken by women through this collection and through other forms of media, the viewer/listener is contributing to elevating women’s voices. Women have value. Their words hold weight. Their experiences matter. After years of existing with the primary purpose of being “seen”, it is time for women to take up more space in platforms that allow us to be seen AND heard.
More info about this product:
This painting was hand-stretched by the artist in her studio on 2" gallery frames. It can be hung as an exposed canvas, or framed in a floating wood frame for a more polished look. This painting comes with an artist statement and signature. If you purchase this painting you will be contacted by the artist for more information about pick-up options in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, or delivery/shipping information.
*Decorative frame not included*
Please note that the buyer is responsible for any shipping charges and/or for picking up the painting, but the artist (or gallery) will facilitate the process by obtaining quotes, packaging the product safely, and bringing it to a shipping centre at no extra cost. Reach out to the artist directly through the Contact page for any inquiries regarding this piece.
*This is an original painting by Tania LaCaria, there is only one in the world. Frame not included.*