Erika Flores

I've always been drawn to the disease of the human condition; the tendency for us humans to perceive ourselves as abiding to a higher, almost superior standard. However, our everyday actions inevitably completely contradict this. Reality doesn't align with intention and expectation. We are generally a darker, more savage beast then we give ourselves credit for being. We are unkind, ugly, and judgmental. It's just part of being human, I accept it, but most don't.

In my work, I explore issues of repression, how we are bound from acting willfully and unabashedly for fear of being judged through the existence of certain institutions (i.e. government, religion, etc.) or social mores. We accept that this is just the way things are and so we don't fight against this construct. However, this goes against our most basic human instinct and so we struggle against our urges. The figures in my paintings are not content with being bound. Their expression and gaze shows a visible struggle against restraint or a realization that their efforts are fruitless and a capitulation into their bound existence. We are therefore bound against our will. And we do this to ourselves.

University of Tampa 2012
University of South Florida 2008