Al Filo
Al Filo transforms poignant objects of Hermosa into soft images. Through exchanges with the neighbors, I accessed machetes, first communion chalices and razor wire, which were rubbed with coffee and imprinted onto bedsheets.
In the resulting image, these objects become dual symbols. They represent both: sharpness and softness, violent systems and defense mechanisms, colonial narratives and personal memory. The meaning of these poignant objects is suspended at their edge.
![13 Blunt Machetes, 2019Twin sized bed sheet, coffee rubbing](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1fcb8dd8f1f71347190c3902eb189aafdfa5354a0bdb7fd439984f2bbc427ace/09_TNA_1_Astro.jpg)
![Detail Shot, “13 Blunt Machetes”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cc59bf4382218b5b363c0f2707860dd7e054ba9fabead24d0f8851fb3f389a3a/09_TNA_3_Astro.jpg)
![Documentation of process: Roberto, next to his machetes for sale](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8c012238d5d3d94dc5400af2f68910812e75c836614223021e4119f0bd1b37df/09_TNA_2_Astro.jpg)
![Dull Communion Chalices, 2019Twin sized bed sheet, coffee rubbing](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7ab53b04aea71245b265ee09cacb124fb39220558416d7aac9d32a17f796dc93/09_TNA_4_Astro.jpg)
![Detail Shot, “Dull Communion Chalices”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1dc0508339bf444d10e8b90929e795819e384de28315c16a938647e373629231/09_TNA_5_Astro.jpg)
![Documentation of work materials: first communion chalices (cake toppers)](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ed0488e3f819ded10ac7b3a40d265f549808fcb097d0457cbfee6164ed12901a/09_TNA_6_Astro.jpg)
![Razor Wire Ribbon, 2019Installation: pillowcases with coffee rubbings, crates](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7c42e7c646b9a905e476669cb16c0fde00cd1450ed78782fba6b31ed053c018a/09_TNA_7_Astro.jpg)
![Documentation of process: Nelson cutting wire from the auto shop fence](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4114b704bfc64bfddec0aa27633cc5619805f4ceb06d20043ab16baed0b7749b/09_TNA_8_Astro.jpg)
![Detail Shot, “Razor Wire Ribbon”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/db0f6919c73016c4d54ffcbe3261356a35c6b2eea4ba6fb7322e5ab7c70e72ce/09_TNA_9_Astro.jpg)
Exhibitions
Tu Nombre Arroz
Chuquimarca Projects, Chicago, 2019
Curated by John Guevara
As part of the exhibition programming, students from Harold Washington College were invited for a workshop exploring Hermosa through touch.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/925e8be7367a95e6d3f59d8569ddae335c0012527ace62a8963b58757496af89/09_TNA_10_Astro.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/45e7e907057a5c2a48412dc10adcbb7715b5259c1c76a2afc0891f2d89e2a7f7/09_TNA_11_Astro.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f7e64c787a464d0161e10c878927a3cc457b5355156444883a9220d7889f8826/09_TNA_12_Astro.jpg)