Mami Yanqui, 2023. Installation, photo print on aluminum (20” x 20” inches) and mural with white, blue, and red stripes on the wall. Approximately 160” x 30” inches
Cuquita, the Cuban Doll, engages with iconic American cultural symbols like the American flag and fast food to explore themes of identity and cultural hybridity. The blue, red, and white stripes evoke the shared colors of the American and Cuban flags, making the political tension between the two nations visible. This tension reflects Romagoza's experience of inhabiting an in-between cultural space—feeling both a sense of belonging and not belonging—while examining the utopian ideals of the American Dream. In Cuba, the term "Yankee" is commonly used to refer to the United States. Meanwhile, "mami" is a Spanish slang term with layered meanings; it can refer to a mother, an attractive woman, a romantic partner, or a close female friend. Mami Yanqui symbolizes Cuquita's multicultural identity. Romagoza navigates the contradictions between her past in Cuba and her present in the United States, reflecting on the complexities of cultural displacement and identity formation.
Cuquita The Cuban Doll Sits on a Chair with a Big Mac, 2023, 45 min
In this provocative performance, Cuquita the Cuban Doll sits poised in a chair adorned with American flag boxing gloves, confronting a Big Mac placed before her. Framed by a backdrop of blue, white, and red stripes, this visual tableau explores themes of cultural assimilation, identity, and resistance. The performance juxtaposes the symbols of American consumerism and nationalism with Cuquita’s vibrant and exaggerated persona, challenging viewers to question the pressures of conformity and the expectations placed on immigrants to adapt to dominant cultural narratives. The boxing gloves suggest both a readiness for struggle and the paradoxical fight to maintain individuality within the context of the American Dream. The Big Mac, a universal icon of globalization, is a metaphor for the complex and often conflicting relationship between cultural heritage and the desire for inclusion. Through humor, irony, and subversion, The performance invites audiences to reflect on the immigrant experience, the commodification of identity, and the resilience required to navigate spaces of cultural and societal tension. This performance is both a celebration of self-expression and a critique of the contradictions inherent in the pursuit of belonging.
Video documentation
HD, 16:9, MP4, Color, Stereo.
Edition of 7/1 AP
Produced as part of the exhibition “Destination is Close: New Member Group Show,” curated by Deric Carner and Alexandra Unthank, The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, 08.14.23 – 12.01.23