Chris Canales-Cisneros

01 The Family Gossip

Projection mapping work that documents the process of decreation

“The initial body of work within my thesis project, The Family Gossip, was a series of works which contains very literal depictions of the stereotypes regarding homosexuality, notions that I was internalizing throughout my upbringing. It examines topics such as the cultural emphasis placed on hair and how integral it was for family bonding, taboos surrounding cross-dressing, aspects of play I was never able to fulfill in my youth, and the disturbing notion that sexual violence in childhood has an impact on sexual orientation. The destruction of these paintings using fire represents my frustration and resentment with these topics but also initiates the process of decreation that allowed me to create a reviving narrative using the resulting ashes as the medium for new work. During the process, I removed the charred stretcher bars from the fire, allowing me to preserve a physical artifact from the act without compromising the conceptual integrity of the work had I salvaged the painting itself. These materials eventually led to the development of a projection-mapping installation. Photographs of the work before their decreation and video of the desecration play side by side and are framed by the stretcher bars. This installation will be played on a continuous loop shifting between the documentation material to provide the audience with insight into the volatile nature of fire as an artistic medium.”