MARIQUITA 2024
Printed on 36 lb Matte Bond Paper
At fifteen, life ignites, the inner folds of existence shifting, molding itself into choices, structures, ideas—and cages. The body wrestles with the growing pains of change, as quinceañeras often embrace the butterfly, a symbol of the profound transformation unfolding. The soft glow of youth is shed, giving way to a graceful yet austere form, marking the passage into adulthood.
In this project, I reflect on my experience as a queer boy, an outsider to the rituals of the quinceañera. Yearning for femininity, yet finding no space to express it. Rather than the familiar butterfly, I chose its demonized relative—the moth. I paired this with the homophobic slur "faggot," translated as "mariquita," derived from the Spanish word for butterfly, “mariposa.” This choice underscores the demonization and reclamation of identity as I navigate my own rite of passage.
This artwork explores my journey of coming of age within the quinceañera framework, centering on the butterfly-like mask I wore as a child. By overlaying an old photograph of myself in a cowboy hat with a pink butterfly mask, I symbolize the paradox inherent in this experience. The cowboy hat, emblematic of machismo in Mexican culture, is fitting for a young boy, yet it conceals the tender glow.
The exploration of identity and age unfolds through vibrant, youthful colors, echoing the delicate pigments found on butterfly wings. These repeated patterns offer a sense of deep comfort, a refuge as I shielded myself from the harsh blows of homophobia and hatred. Accompanying this visual narrative is an abstract poem I wrote, sharing my experience of transformation into adulthood during my childhood. The poem invites a non-linear reading—up, down, left, or right—breaking away from the confines of conformity that so often seeks to bind us.
This piece was featured in The Quinceanera project, an art collective created and curated by Bianey Esquivel. The pieces within this group exhibition experiment with the tradition of the quinceanera and the elements of religion, self realization, and the paradoxes within Latinx culture. The inauguration exhibit was held at The Arlene Francis center in Santa Rosa, California on August 23 and then held a later exhibition date at Neon Raspberry Art House in Occidental, California from August 31 to September 29.
