Bloodlines, Whispered Utterances, and Taxonomies of Belonging
Taxonomies
The Taxonomy series of prints serves as an integral component of a larger multi-media art project titled “Bloodlines.” Within this series, individual images are intricately woven into the themes and fabulist narratives surrounding two remarkable queer revolutionaries, who were conceived as ancestral figures within my and my husband’s respective family histories. LGBTQ peoples’ histories are all too often ignored, erased, or simply forgotten. This artistic endeavor delves deep into the profound concept of historical erasure, as it reimagines Isabela and Frederick—based on real-life ancestors—as fearless gay and lesbian radical revolutionaries. Isabela hails from the Dominican Republic where she fought against the dictator Rafael Trujillo; while Frederick’s roots trace back to Flatbush, Brooklyn, where he fought alongside George Washington against the British during the American revolutionary war.
These prints breathe life into these reimagined queer characters by endowing them with stories that brim with courage, humor, and humanity. As part of a broader tapestry of images and artifacts, these prints contribute to the creation of a visual lexicon that encapsulates the essence of their extraordinary lives and adventures.
In “Bloodlines,” the Taxonomy series emerges as a visual vocabulary mapping out the lived experiences of fictitious ancestors, challenging historical silences and offering a vibrant portrayal of the queer and peculiar transformative roles they played in a reimagined history.
