David Cárdenas

2020 Senior Exhibition Artists

David Cárdenas

Art + Design: Sculpture

Biography

David was born in Boston MA, and was raised in Lawrence MA, where the large majority of citizens are Latino. Born from immigrant parents, he is a first-generation college student and studied all four years at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, furthering his love and passion for art. He is passionate about social justice and having his art being used as a platform for him to speak and create conversations.

Statement

The home as a source of resistance and oppression is a concept that my work only recently has been realized to me. Creating these shanty dilapidated structures out of wood and other mixed media that are dredged in a thick white colored coat emulate a loss of something, it evokes a kind of desperation to be whole and filled. Throughout this year I worked towards this concept, of the self being held back by the very structure that is to be your support. As a first-generation student, there is always a doubt in the self, always doubt in that path you have chosen. Having to choose between yourself over family, to thrive and grow and evolve into something different but still having the ties back to the home and a predisposed sense of needing to uplift and support those who are tied to you. Always questioning to either help your foundation or to selfishly help yourself and finally start your own journey. My work has unconsciously evolved into a self-reflection, these dilapidated domicile structures face the very truth of my present being, my domiciles being so vacant with no evidence of occupancy leaves an encapsulated moment of the moment in time where a decision must be made. Weighing the options of moving back and serving your time to support your foundation that supported you or to go and feed yourself with the things you need to complete “yourself journey” that you know cannot be completed back home.