Rodrigo Angel Jimenez-Ortega’s solo exhibit “IT IS WHAT IT IS”

Can memes be considered culture and are the paintings of them gallery worthy? According to this exhibit and the artist, the answer is yes. I didn’t get a chance to catch the artist talk before this opening and didn’t approach the artist during the event. I think I was able to spot him though, he was in a grey suit. We kept making eyes across the gallery so I had the opportunity but didn’t jump on it. I’m a chicken! 

Looking through the gallery I felt akin to him. The exhibit explored “identity, memory, and culture through the lens of heritage and digital media.” There were memes painted to perfection and what I can only describe as fan (fine) art of video games, anime, and American culture; Star Wars, Disney, etc. These pieces were intertwined with pieces that focused on Mexican/Mesoamerican culture. Some pieces intertwined the two like this piñata piece. RIP piñata SpongeBob, his sacrifice to the party gods is always appreciated. 

As a Chicano who mainly grew up on anime and cartoons, this exhibit tickled me in all the right places. I was transported back to the last time I think I was actually happy; the fandom years. Nothing made me as happy as waking up at 3:45 every morning in middle school to watch Teen Titans reruns. Then came the “real” world. 

I didn’t take many pictures of the pieces that covered la migra and police in riot gear. I spent a lot of time with those pieces but ... idk … with evening going on I just didn’t want to take pictures of them. I did take this one though, the guy on the car made me laugh.