Natalie Melara
/ inTENSION
1/4/2021
01 - About the Artist
Natalie Melara is a multidisciplinary artist based in Mohkinstsis/Calgary, Canada. Melara’s practice is mostly auto-ethnographical and investigates the internal tensions that stem from the intersectionality of being Canadian born to immigrant Salvadoran parents. Melara has also obtained technical training in fashion design (Olds College, Olds, Canada) and architectural design ( Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, Canada) which informs the curiosity, development and exploration of her practice by recontextualizing design concepts and theories from those fields and applying them to the creation of her work. Her current practice includes painting, digital media, lens based and metalwork.
02 - About the Work
Natalie Melara’s auto-ethnographical work investigates the internal tension that stems from the intersectionality of being Canadian born to immigrant Salvadoran parents; and from the attempt of trying to balance North American and Latin culture. The artist believes that the current climate we are experiencing with the rallying voices of the BIPOC community is not only due to external battles of injustice and inequality; but also a result of the internal tensions that BIPOC face. Having to adapt and juggle a varying set of demands and expectations creates tension in the self which is magnified by the feeling of not really belonging anywhere.
inTENSION (2020), Video, Collaboration with Andres Cardenas & Erica Chan
05. Rootlessness & Restlessness (2020), Acrylic on canvas, 24” X 20”
04. Oneness & Manynyess (2020), Acrylic on canvas, digital media, 24” X 18”
03. Mold (2020), Acrylic on canvas, digital media, 24” X 18”
02. Narrative (2020), Acrylic on canvas, digital media, 24” X 18”
01. Tension (2020), Acrylic on canvas, digital media, 24” X 18”