I am a Melbourne-based artist. Having migrated to Australia in the mid 1980’s after living in Mexico, Honduras and Panama, I chose painting and poetry as the ideal forms to express my emotions about conflict in my homeland (Guatemala), diaspora and my ever changing Australian journey.
With a background in journalism from studying and working in several Latin American countries, I spent the first year of settlement in Australia learning the English language, and then spent several years studying: I completed a Bachelor of Arts at Swinburne University and a Master of Arts at Monash University. I have worked in the university sector for the past 25 years in planning and institutional research.
My life exegesis is that: A life of certainty brings complacency whereas uncertainty boosts creativity.
Throughpainting I found a way to express what has been a lifelong response to dealing with uncertainty and adaptation. Certainty has not been the norm in my life; it has instead been an ephemeral passage that I idealise by the shape and form of the strokes which are latent in these paintings. The ability to adapt has been critical for survival.
In my paintings I seek to draw common ground in the spirit and living experiences of the indigenous people (both in Australia and in Guatemala), their culture, colour, traditions, and their long lasting memories of their ancestors. Painting has become a happy medium to live with; a great way to share experiences and feel connected with people.
When not painting, I am either working on higher education policy and performance issues or advocating for refugees, or spending time with my children. Other interests of mine are running along the coastal paths of Melbourne’s bay side area; cooking, reading and poetry.