The Methodology of Queer Visual Storytelling
Pico del Hierro-Villa
Medium: Digital Photography, Testimonio, and Website (2021-2022)
Issues: Ethical Documentation of Marginalized Communities, LGBTQ Testimonios, and Queer Chicana Feminism
Project Links
Description
Queer/Trans Latinx visual representation is often focused on the digressions we as a community face, known as trauma porn. This can be historically tied to how visual technology, such as the camera, was utilized as an exploitive colonial tool to document Indigenous peoples and how that is still seen in present day through popular media. With the work of Chicana/o writing and art I interpret this into creating visual story telling methods that run off of the resistance Chicana Feminism theory and art has presented by creating counter-hegemonic frameworks. Specifically, through my photography project “Espiritualidad”, currently displayed at the National Hispanic Cultural Art Museum, which explores Queer Chicanxs positive spirituality outside of the Catholic secular realm that has presented trauma in many Queer/Trans lives. Seeing this form of oppositional art and literature that is made for the purpose to represent narratives and people that are invisible led me to create the method of fotografímonios by combing photography and testimonios to uplift and tell the stories of Queer and Trans Latinx communities. Chicana Feminist theory of Chela Sandoval’s “Oppositional Consciousness”, Emma Perez’s “Decolonial Imaginary”, and Gloria Anzaldua’s “Coatlicue State” inform the framework. The Methodology of Queer Visual Storytelling takes an oppositional stance to the fixation of documented negative experiences of the Latinx LGBTQ community. Fotografímonios broaden the consciousness of people and how they view Queer folks by creating work that comes from a non “outsider” perspective and presents a more positive outlook. Though we face turbulence as a community it is important to document the successes we create within colonial domains.
Prior Showings:
“Espiritualidad” a photographic wall exhibit of testimonios from four LGBTQ Chicanxs reclaiming spirituality at The National Hispanic Cultural Center Art Museum. Albuquerque, New Mexico. (November 2021)
“Espiritualidad” a photographic solo exhibit of the testimonios of nine LGBTQ Chicanxs reclaiming spirituality at The Orpheum Community Hub for Art Walk. Albuquerque, New Mexico. (July 2021)
Bio
Pico del Hierro-Villa is a Trans Fronterizx who recently received their M.A. at the University of New Mexico in ChicanX Studies. Being raised in El Paso, later moving to Albuquerque, NM, they found the beauty of storytelling among Queer elders and those who never had the opportunity to present their stories to the public. The mode of their art and research is based on gathering testimonios and photographing Queer and Trans BIPOC folks which captures a multitude of LGBTQ+ experiences, a method they call fotografímonios. The purpose of their work is to not only honor the Q/T BIPOC identity but to uplift Queer and Trans political struggles and providing post narratives that counter act against negative perceptions of the Queer and Trans lifestyle. Another focus of their work is Queering cultural iconographies as well as creative writing that presents self-testimonios as a form of healing, spiritual connection, and familial remembrance. Pico’s work has been published at the University of New Mexico, Latinx focused Academic Journals, magazines and has been displayed in local galleries.