“De Chile, Mole y Dulce, inkjet print, board and wood, 2016, 96 x 252″

By dressing different people in the costume of the stereotypical Mexican, I challenge the notion of ‘types.’ The title of this work, “De Chile, Mole y Dulce,” is a Spanish saying that originated to describe the variety of tamales available: spicy, savory, or sweet. For this work I photographed the diversity of people found on local college campuses. I created the portraits in order to explore my own identity as Mexican. Born and raised in Mexico, but with light hair and skin, people often challenge my identity- insisting that because I do not fit into the stereotype that I must not be authentically Mexican.