Artist Statement
A Love Letter to...
This body of work represents a unity and a journey between two individuals in a space. What started as stencils for our engagement became a series of paintings. These paintings are created using four different words: Juan, Malak, Free, and Palestine. In a way, these words are a time-stamp of my journey with Islam and my wife. Inspired by the Arabic language and Japanese anime. Through the use of line, color, and movement, my work mimics both.
I am interested in “chance”. What happens if I take something recognizable and flip, turn, rotate, or overlap? Will the meaning change, or just the design? To me, these took on a whole different meaning. They became love letters or notes dedicated to my wife and the people of Palestine. A Love Letter To… is a collection of work that depicts my journey and my love.
A Love Letter to...
These our my letters to you
To us.
To me.
They are a visual description of my commitment to us.
A promise to our people.
CHENO
My work explores a "Sacred Space" or "Holy Space” cultivated and left behind by my ancestors as a gift, an endowment, a testament to their spirit, culture and sacrifice. Within this space, I honor, pray, empty my heart and dance with the night. This body of work represents a communion in infinite space. It reflects what is, what was, and what always will be.
Mi trabajo explora un "Espacio Sagrado" cultivado y dejado por mis antepasados como un regalo, una dotación, un testimonio de su espíritu, cultura y sacrificio. Dentro de este espacio, honro, rezo, vacío mi corazón y bailo con la noche. Este cuerpo de trabajo representa una comunión en el espacio infinito. Refleja lo que es, lo que fue y lo que siempre será.
Las Flores de Ayer
My work represents an infinite space. It is what it is and it was what it was. I no longer wish to paint about anyone or anything. I paint to live. I paint to paint.
This new body of work represents a personal space. " Flor y Canto" or " Flower and Song". To paint a Flor is to paint a song. I believe that as individuals we paint our own flower and create our own song. This is what keeps us breathing, thinking, and living.
Mi obra representa un espacio infinito. Es lo que es y fue lo que fue. Ya no deseo pintar sobre nada ni nadie. Pinto para vivir. Pinto por pintar.
Este nuevo cuerpo de trabajo representa un espacio personal. "Flor y Canto" o "Flower and Song". Pintar una Flor es pintar una canción. Creo que como individuos pintamos nuestra propia flor y creamos nuestra propia canción. Esto es lo que nos mantiene respirando, pensando y viviendo.