“The Last Resort”

By Angel Ortega

(click to enlarge)

Medium of Artwork:

Oil Pastel Drawing

Dimension of Artwork:

48”x72”

Artist Statement

“… [i]t is important to briefly mention that the piece explores the intertwining of religion and nationalism as a tool for manipulation and order within an immigrant household. The work focuses directly on the composition of “The Last Supper” and how the historical resonance of Jesus having a final feast is seen as acceptance for burdening the sins of mankind. Yet, the significance of that pictorial representation does not lie in the composition itself, but in the cultural value it holds for Catholicism, especially for immigrants of Latin American descent. For this community of people, upholding such an image and religion is seen as a way of honoring and yearning for an indefinite connection to their homeland. Hence, the connection to nationalism. Through that yearning, these groups become heavily attuned to their patriotism, which in turn becomes intertwined with religion. “The Last Resort” speaks of that instance within my Mexican household where the utilization of religion was deployed as a tool for manipulation and control in raising American children. Instead of representing that memory with human representations, I delved into otherworldly beings in this composition, specifically flags. The exploration of anthropomorphic flags allowed me to construct this series of work in which I criticized this interconnection between nationalism and religion. Additionally, it allowed me to detach myself from being too serious and vulnerable with my work, specifically in the context of talking about my experience. The work comments on the rationale deployed within the adults of the household during my early childhood, which is then used to highlight how such rationale was a tool for manipulation and yearning for their homeland. This deconstruction is a hidden way of reshaping the power structure within my family. To be exact, instead of being the one being controlled, I am the one controlling the amount of information I want to let out, which gives me the power to represent whatever I desire.”