Paola Mateo

I pull, detangle, twist, fluff, set, and sew hair of different textures and colors, combing it into one piece as I pierce it with nails, penetrating each strand with the expectations of society. I hang the hair on walls, force it into corners, wear it and make it stand alone. This series of work displays different methods of using both artificial and real hair to address the structural and systemic racism that originates within a colonial society and makes its way into the homes and minds of Afro-Latinx people. The work speaks to a range of emotions such as auto-phobia (hatred of oneself), racism within the Latinx community, confusion of origin and the stereotypical stigma that follows the choice of not conforming to Eurocentric standards.  See more on issuu .