Chico & Chang (2011-2012)
Ana Teresa Fernandez
Carry On (detail), 2011
Mixed media
Ana Teresa Fernandez’s sculptural installation looks at how immigrant communities resourcefully utilize ubiquitous plaid nylon shopping bags as multifunctional material – not just for grocery shopping and taking the wash to the laundrymat, but also for sectional home decoration and placemats. She creates both a fictional and representational interior of a household, where every surface is covered in this material. Objects blend into the surreal tapestry of this unique, recognizable pattern, obfuscating both their identity and function. Through this installation, Fernandez hints at a metaphor of immigrants within our society inconspicuously carrying the heavy workload of service and cleaning industries.
Visitors were invited to wear the clothes and play around with objects in the installation.
Chico & Chang
June 11 - August 20, 2011
Intersection for the Arts
San Francisco, CA
Photo credit: Scott Chernis