Mixed-media artist Alexander Hernandez embraces body positivity with “Fabuloso” photo work

[Story by Royvi Hernandez; Photo: Mark Jude Rywelski]

After two years of Acción Latina’s Juan R. Fuentes Gallery being closed due to COVID-19, we are happy to be showcasing mixed-media textile artist, Alexander Hernandez. Born in Huajuapan de Leon, Oaxaca-Mexico and currently living in San Francisco, Hernandez has created various works of soft-form art and layer quilted textiles to discuss the experiences of those othered, isolated, and excluded. Hernandez draws from personal experience of being a queer immigrant living with HIV to inspire their art and has curated various exhibits throughout the Bay Area. Their latest body of work, “Fabuloso,” features photographs of different “queer men who embrace their hair, husky and bigger builds,” printed on fabric. Their hope with the exhibit is to promote body positivity and dismantle unrealistic body expectations. The exhibition runs from Oct. 1 – Oct. 31, and the reception will be held on Oct. 13 from 6-9pm at 2958 24th Street, San Francisco, CA. 

What is it about art that you are so passionate about and how do you express yourself through art?

Just like materials. I use a lot of textiles. I use patchwork because it’s the only way that I can really talk about my identity. You know, being a first-generation Mexican-American, I never felt like I belonged here or there. Using visual language is a way for me to talk about that. I use Mexican and Americana patterns and that kind of talks about what it is to be in between two worlds and also kind of being nomadic and also about my queer identity and all these other identities that I didn’t have. 

In art, you want the audience or in this case the observer to feel some emotion or connect with you. What is that for you? 

Like I said I like to use patterns that are very meaningful but I also feel they’re some cultural patterns. For example, the patterns you see in embroideries or you see in serapes, so I use a lot of those patterns. But then I also use pop cultural patterns, like Looney Tunes, things that are very impactful in the Latin community and how pop culture forms our identity as well.

In this particular case what is the theme?

The show is called “Fabuloso.” I‘ve done work about my HIV identity, my queer identity and then something that I haven’t really talked about is being a chubby Latino, about body positivity and how there’re these kind of these tropes about skinny Latino twink lovers. So I wanted to emphasize other types of bodies, specifically bearish like sick chubby. Things you don’t really hear about in the gay normative kind of world. In the gay men’s world, people really idolize muscles and slim so I wanted to talk about regular bodies. Growing up, you know seeing these bodies on [television] I didn’t see my body and I didn’t know there was a world of gay guys that liked each other. So I wanted to touch on [these issues].

Is there a particular piece that you’re most proud of in this showcase?

Well I’m a libra so I’m indecisive. I like all of them for different reasons.  

Can you describe the art?

I was informed by gay dating apps and how we like to portray ourselves online. So a couple years ago I did a project where I collected a lot of these images that people were sending me and I wanted to use them in work but I didn’t want to show or out people so I pixilated them. You saw the image but you couldn’t really tell who it was. A lot of my work is quilting and patchwork and so I’m printing them on fabric and then sewing on top of them. There is a mixture between technology, handmade, quilting and sewing and I also use trim that’s very reminiscent of Latino homes, decorative and vibrant colors. I also created my own San Marcos blanket pattern. So there’s something kind of familiar but kind of new at the same time and there’s also some pom-pom trim around it that’s very Latin, very cha-cha and I’m referencing all that as well. 

What would you like to tell young aspiring artists or any advice you would like to give someone with similar passions? 

It’s going to be a lot harder than you think. You have to be your own public relations, marketing team. People tend to think you can be talented and make great work but if nobody comes and sees it or buys it then it doesn’t really do anything. You have to put yourself out there. You have to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and sell yourself so you have to be prepared for that because you can’t just make work and hope that people will come and see it no matter how great it is. Sometimes it’s hard because you have to realize ‘oh I have to put some of these capitalistic things in here.’ You have to tell yourself ‘who am I making this art for?’ You can make art for yourself but unless you want to put it out in the world you truly have to sell yourself. 

What would you say has been your biggest struggle?

I think because I went to art school, I didn’t really realize that I had to build connections and create a network. I didn’t notice it until it was way too late, that’s something that I had to learn on my own. Being a visual artist is a mixed bag and everybody’s road is different. Some people get recognized right away and [for] some people it may take years before they even get recognized. It’s about how comfortable you are waiting for it to happen.

Have you had this passion for art since you were very young or as you got older?

Yeah, I think I’ve always been visually inclined or creative. So when I took a high school art class I fell in love with it and then I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. It’s also been a way for me to cope with trauma and as I said earlier to express myself. Even if this wasn’t what I was doing in the long run I still would find a way to be creative in any way.