Cruz Ortiz's work often explores the love-hate relationship between Chicanx (Mexican American) people living in the post-Movimiento period and the Eurocentric society they live in (also known as the Chicano Movement, El Movimientoadvocated for Mexican American empowerment across a broad spectrum of issues including land reclamation, labor rights, education reform, and cultural identity). It examines traditional Chicano iconography, stereotypes, and the challenges of authenticity.
In Darling, viewers are presented with the words “Te quiero darling - till I die” (te quiero translates to "I love you"), a mix of Spanish and English. The phrase takes center stage while the figure, a self-portrait of the artist as his alter-ego Spaztek, almost fades into the background. The words on the scrap of paper are divided by a dash: there is a tension between the two sides—perhaps the "love-hate" dynamic that characterizes Ortiz's art.
—Adapted and excerpted from https://serieproject.org/product/cruz-ortiz/, accessed 8-5-2022, and research conducted by University of Notre Dame students, supervised by Dr. Tatiana Reinoza, 2021
In Darling, viewers are presented with the words “Te quiero darling - till I die” (te quiero translates to "I love you"), a mix of Spanish and English. The phrase takes center stage while the figure, a self-portrait of the artist as his alter-ego Spaztek, almost fades into the background. The words on the scrap of paper are divided by a dash: there is a tension between the two sides—perhaps the "love-hate" dynamic that characterizes Ortiz's art.
—Adapted and excerpted from https://serieproject.org/product/cruz-ortiz/, accessed 8-5-2022, and research conducted by University of Notre Dame students, supervised by Dr. Tatiana Reinoza, 2021
