Brian

Ramirez

MA Ceramics

The story of the genocidal conquest of the Americas was not written by indigenous people. Through my work I offer a contemporary view by challenging one-sided perspectives. As a Chicano and Angeleno, I seek to reclaim my indigenous consciousness by using Aztec and Mayan mythologies and their symbols throughout my ceramic objects. This becomes the framework though which I clarify misrepresented historical events and highlight Mexican and Californian history in a narrative way. Referencing ritualistic offerings, I display much of my work in a similar way to create a deeper connection to my culture. In the end I draw symbolic and cultural connections between past and present to gain a profound understanding of my indigenous heritage and the legacy of colonialism.