Ian Guerra - Piñata

“Within this line of work by Ian Guerra, various points are reflected on within the artworks, from images of Salvadoran culture and folklore, as well as wildlife that inhabits both the United States and Central America. The concept of piñatas provides a temporary vehicle in which shared memory and oral tradition inhabit. While temporary, the concepts and ideas still persist, similar to the experience of remembering breaking a piñata at a party.

Piñatas are often seen as lowbrow, low-priced objects that inhabit mere minutes of people’s time. A natural juxtaposition is imposed, as every piñata one sees at a supermarket or an art gallery is handmade and representative of skilled craft, regardless of who applies the numerous strips of fringed paper.”