Carne quemada (Burnt Flesh)
New York, USA.
I remain restrained to the ground by an installation of iron and concrete designed from the national flag of Israel. The structure restricts the movements of my body and reduces my breathing and the flow of oxygen to my brain. At intervals, a person lifts the chains that obstruct my breathing, preventing me from losing consciousness due to lack of oxygen.
Burnt Flesh denounces the genocide that has been taking place in Gaza since October 2023, perpetrated by the State of Israel with the support of the United States.
The State of Israel is responsible for the confinement of the population of Gaza, which has been under siege since 2007. It is also responsible for the indiscriminate bombing of the civilian population —including the killing of more than 21,300 children—, forced displacement, the blockade of humanitarian aid and food, and the use of starvation as a method of war. In addition, for the systematic destruction of schools, hospitals, and medical facilities in Gaza.
Finally, Burnt Flesh confronts exclusionary nationalism and the colonization of Palestine, transforming these political violences into a bodily experience that invites the viewer to reflect on oppression, the need for compassion, and the vulnerability of the body.
During 2025, I presented this work to five art institutions; none produced it. This led me to realize it in my studio, with the hope that it may one day be presented to the public.
Special thanks to Kevin Bonilla and Edna Sandoval.