Various cultures, including Japan and Chicano, inspire Raza De Otro Lado.  The immigration of Mexicans into California originated in the early 20th century when the US Department of Labor started the Guest Worker program, which allowed Mexican migrant workers to enter the US for agricultural work. The shortage of labor and work that Americans were unwilling to do made Mexicans vital to the success of America.  Mexicans were not seen as equals on many levels, beginning with segregation in schools and creating a culture of Latinos that would never have the same opportunities as the white culture, which created an awareness that something had to be done and created a culture in the 60s named Chicanos.  This new culture would be activists embracing their Mexican / Aztlan culture and taking pride in being an American.  The Chincanos would help to create an awareness of how Mexicans were being suppressed and assert ethnic solidarity and Brown Pride.

The Japanese culture living in the United States would also share the same types of oppression as the Chicanos, creating a shared appreciation for each other’s cultures.

During the 90s, a publication titled Lowrider magazine would help cross cultures through the appreciation of the lowrider car, symbolizing creativity, pride, and beauty.  “Raza De Otro Lado” is a Mexican cultural expression in reference to family across the Rio Grande River; in this case, it is the Pacific Ocean.    The work expresses a kinship being created through Cholo culture, especially within fashion and low rider cars.  Within the relief print, I used various iconography from the Japanese culture:  a Samurai mask, “Men-yoroi,” samurai sword, a tattoo design of a Foo Dog, complimented with Cholo iconography plaid shirt, Nike Cortez shoes, and a tattoo design of a quetzal dragon.   The symbolism of loyalty and family, as well as respect for their barrio or region, combined with machismo and masculinity, is underlined with intimidation.  Even though Lowriders and Cholos have been associated with gangs and drugs, as of recent are now being seen in a more positive cultural perception.

 

Raza De Otro Lado

24” x 36”

relief print linoleum