Week 9: Chicanafuturist Marion C. Martinez

 

Author Catherine S. Ramírez formulated the term Chicanafuturism while examining artist Marion C. Martinez pieces for the Tradition Meets Technology installation at the Cyber Arte exhibition in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Artist. Marion C. Martinez was born in northern New Mexico near Los Alamos National Laboratory, the origin land of the atomic bomb. In this cyber arte exhibition Martinez utilized deserted computer parts to both reproduce iconic images such as religious figure La Virgen de Guadalupe in a piece titled Oratorio a. la Virgencita. 

Ramírez described Martinez work as embodying the term Chicanafuturism as it simultaneously repurposes these discarded technological pieces to recreate archetypal symbols in the Chicanx/latinx community it also dismantles the romanticized idea of New Mexico as a “land of enchantment” and expose it as a junkyard for modern technology.  Ramírez illustrates the importance of Martinez Oratorio a la Virgencita expressing how Martinez art simultaneously places Latinas into the narrative of science and technology while embedding science and technology into the Latina narrative. This piece placing an emphasis on implanting the patriarchal realms of science and technology combat the issues of classism, racism, and sexism.

  

Additionally, the significance of Marion C. Martinez placing an archetypal woman such as the La Virgen into a place of science and technology is the impact it shares for young women. Growing up in a catholic household the iconic image of La Virgen is solely captured as a savior woman who watches over her people with grace. Although this imagery captures the divine aspects of La Virgen a piece such as Martinez redefining of La Virgen is needed as it adds a new dimension of strength in knowledge to this spiritual creature.