The Codex Silex Vallis (The Silicon Valley Codex)
This print series presents a mythical re-interpretation of Jose Vasconcelos’ mestizo identity theory, La Raza Cósmica , using animal stand-ins to depict variations of intermixed Latinx bodies. In his theory, Vasconcelos states that the Latin American people, who descend from the intermixing of European DNA with Amerindian, Asian, and African DNA, created an ethnical fusion, a mestizáje, which he characterizes as the cosmic race. Pairing this theory with the imagery of Spanish Casta paintings, popular in 18th century Spanish colonial Mexico and instrumental in constructing racial identity through a visual index, I envision a new set of Castas where Silicon Valley technology has been integrated to intercommunicate between Latinx families.
printed and published by Overpass Projects (RI)