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Inspired by the history of the Taíno people after the Spanish colonization in the Caribbean the artist imagines herself as Atabex, mother nature in Taíno mythology, and how she would've felt having to watch her people been nearly drawn to extinction.
Atabex observando la massacre delves into the profound concept of grief by capturing its essence in a compelling and thought-provoking manner. The artists’ perspective through Atabex's eyes looks into the thought on witnessing her children succumb to the ravages of forced labor, disease, and the loss of Taíno cultural identity. Through the portrait we explore Atabex’s profound sadness and lingering regret for being unable to shield the Taíno people from such atrocities, helplessly witnessing the near extinction of her people in the aftermath of Spanish colonization.
Atabex’s portrait is a self-portrait of the artist herself exploring the emotions of sadness and grief, of which by doing this, she looks into the discussion of generational trauma. The “crown” around the portrait alludes to ancient petroglyphs of the goddess Atabex found in Puerto Rico, quickly identifying her within the artwork. The artworks’ composition exhibit a delicate balance between chaos and order, mirroring the conflicting emotions experienced during the grieving process. Smooth brushwork and golden arrangement convey careful and harmonious elements providing a sense of comfort and stability. This deliberate juxtaposition and the artwork title evokes a powerful sense of tension, inviting viewers to confront their own perspective on colonization and generational trauma.