Visual Art by Carmen Sandino
Analysis by Carmen Sandino & Valeria Daw
Throughout our life, one of the most influential figures that raised us and forged a strong sense of morality and responsibility in my character were our nanas. Nana, a domestic care worker usually called by this name in Nicaragua, Colombia and many other Latin American countries, made everything feel as a bubble, full of joy without adversity. Nonetheless, they somehow managed to always express some real love, from the way they approached to us, played with us, nurtured us, evading her vulnerable reality. The fact that they decided to care for us and work hoping for the best of her kids, reflected her brave, resilient, and assiduous personality.
Not only our nana from our childhood, but many domestic care workers around the world come from the most marginalized communities. They not only, most of the times, lack of a humane lifestyle conditions and a stable state of wellness for them and their kids, yet they are also treated as the invisible in our economies. Due to this, many of these domestic care workers, the backbone of the raising of millions of children, lose their hope and desires along the course of their life. A life with few to non-existent opportunities and privileges in Latin American countries and others. Therefore, we should always stop and listen, helping these wonderful figures in traditional latino communities alleviate their state of vulnerability. Stop and ask, "Nana, ¿y tus deseos?", "Nana, and your wishes?".
"Nana,¿y tus deseos" Vol.I: Background
Innocence is the lack of corruption within a person, the purity that distinguishes someone from a crowd. Often, children appear as the most innocent because of their lack of experience and imagination. They live in a fantasy world, where everything is okay. They enjoy life while they can do it. Through this drawing, I wanted to portray the innocence of the children versus the mother's reality. A mother who works all day in cleaning houses, washing clothes, and cooking for other families. A mother who has to then go back to her home with a happy face to hide all the sorrow and despair of her situation, all she does to maintain her family happy. My purpose was to demonstrate the reality of what people live in their everyday lives. This mother looks back with an upset gesture, which immediately turns into a happy one when she sees her boys waiting for her at the door.
"Nana,¿y tus deseos" Vol.II: Background
Darkness is often used when describing a low-income community. Their homes are portrayed as dark and dirty places because of the circumstances they live in. Through this drawing, I wanted to demonstrate this thought and stereotype. I intended to draw a lower class house: small, crowded, dirty, and mostly dark. Also, I wanted to highlight how it might be hard to understand what the whole drawing is; it appears to be messy, representing these homes. It is sad to think some people have to live like this, but it's reality, and we have to be informed in order to be inspired.
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