JOSEPHINE KALBFLEISCH
A woman admires several works by featured gallery artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez.
The College of Fine Arts has seen its fair share of bold colors, but few compare to the new exhibit that opened this fall.
Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez’s new installation, Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá — which translates from Spanish to English to “Not From Here, Not From There” — is a new solo exhibition on view from Sept. 5 through Dec. 10 at the Boston University Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery.
Quiñonez’s art primarily explores themes of biculturalism in relation to his Mexican-American identity. The exhibit, curated by the internationally acclaimed Kate Fowle, opened a little over a week prior to the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
“‘Not From Here, Not From There’ really encapsulates the bicultural, bilingual experience of growing up in the [United] States rather than in the place where your parents are from,” said sophomore Julian Rivera. “Of course, you’re going to preserve your culture … [B]ut at the end of the day, we’re all born in America.”
Through colorful imagery, Quiñonez merges cultural textiles and handwoven rugs with objects from his childhood to tell stories of immigration and incarceration.
The exhibition’s pieces resonated immediately for senior David Fils-Aimé.
“The piece that got my attention the most was the popsicle stand that said ‘I.C.E. Scream,’” Aimé said. “Given the recent rise of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]’s presence everywhere, I think that’s very powerful.”
Aimé said the installation’s details gave the work a warmth and depth, especially in a storefront-style piece called “Botanica.”
“It’s super intricate … [I]t seems super cozy, super warm, just looking at it,” he said. “His use of neon lights is very captivating.”
Quiñonez, with his distinctive “Neo-Indigenous” style, draws from hip-hop, Chicanx aesthetics and graffiti background in his works. His murals crowd subjects with color and influence, honoring his personal experience and cultural history.
The exhibit’s meaning connects to larger questions of belonging on campus, sophomore Maria Reyes said.
“For many students, specifically immigrants, it can be easy to feel like you have to leave your culture behind,” Reyes said. “Being in Boston, it’s very easy to feel Imposter Syndrome.”
Having organizations on campus helps students adjust to being away from home and in a new cultural environment, Reyes said.
“I feel like it’s important to help students feel a sense of community, a sense of home, family, and it’s something to be proud of to have these organizations on campus,” Reyes said. “They give everyone a chance to learn, connect and just celebrate together.”
She pointed to Festival Latino, a collaboration between Alianza Latina, and several other Hispanic student associations, as a highlight of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“One of my favorite parts is how it brings people together, and it can open new doors for people to meet other people on campus,” Reyes said.
The exhibit speaks to the value of preserving culture and community in today’s social climate, Rivera said.
“In the whole initiative of [pushback against] culture and inclusivity, it’s definitely necessary in places like these to have fun with people and just enjoy community with each other,” Rivera said. “Being able to have spaces like these is essential.”