ARTIST STATEMENT
In 2013, at 25 years old, I created my series “Parallel Lines” —A combination of symbolism and words to create storyboards of the stories I wanted to tell in contrast to the stories of others shared in my portraits.
Living in Los Angeles, California, watching people metaphorically and literally step over homeless as if they did not exist was becoming surreal. I found myself in countless conversations with friends looking me in my eyes in assumption I had never been in destitution and effortlessly explain it was the homeless’ choice to lay on the concrete.
In the so many attempts I see my generation push for such beautiful causes, we ironically lost value in human decency.
The word “YOU.” repeated most prominently in this series was my effort to highlight the simple thought of someone else. The repetitive thought of a loved one and the completely necessary thought of everyone we choose not to see.
This series is tribute to the upbringing I am forever indebted to —the multitude of lives I was honored to live that taught me each life is real.
Tonia Calderon’
2022 Statement In Retrospective
PARALLEL LINES, CONCEPTION 2013
© CALDERON ARTWORK, LLC. 2022