QUERER SER 81in x 99in Flat muslin bedsheet, felt letters, digital animation, mural by Bothe Kretsinger.
"Querer ser libre es empezar a serlo - To want to be free is to begin to be so." These words spoken by Puerto Rican revolutionary Ramón Emeterio Betances represent the innate propensity for liberation that exists within us all. But how do we seize freedom in a colonial context? This installation looks at the island's colonial history alongside its rich history of resistance and asks the question: What does a liberated future look like for Puerto Rico?
This piece was made amidst a present day crisis in Puerto Rico. Earthquakes, corruption, and negligence further plague the island only two years after Hurricane Maria. Many have lost their homes and continue to sleep outdoors for fear of more destruction as the earth continues to shake. Help support relief efforts in Puerto Rico by donating to the following organizations: Brigada Solidaria del Oeste, CORREA FAMILY FOUNDATION, Helping Hands for Puerto Rico.
In an effort to educate audiences about the situation in Puerto Rico, Lares Feliciano has created QUERER SER: A Study Guide to accompanying the multi-media installation. Please feel free to download, use, and share.
Querer Ser was created for Near in the Distance: RedLine’s 2020 Annual Resident Artist Exhibition. Curated by Nicole J. Caruth, Near in the Distance features works that explore important issues of our time, including surveillance, cultural erasure, environmental degradation, gender equity, and productivity. The exhibition considers the social and cultural forces that shape our lives now and influence fears and hopes for the near future.
Near in the Distance: RedLine’s 2020 Annual Resident Artist Exhibition is on view at RedLine Contemporary Art Center through March 8th, 2020.
