Yaritza Piñeiro
I research Dominican history as a means to understand my culture and the corruption within it. This research is implemented in my art processes. It allows me to celebrate my culture while simultaneously analyzing and critiquing certain aspects that never sat well with me. Some examples of these issues would be: gender norms, colorism, the divide between Haiti and the Dominican Republic due to the effects of colonialist beliefs. My work honors marginalized people in Dominican culture. These are lives that are deemed as unimportant yet are crucial to the progression of our livelihood. People of African descent have contributed to Dominican culture. They have played a major role in the foundation & financial stability of the country. The sugar industry & tourism in the Dominican Republic are proof of that. These forms of revenue would not thrive without the black workers that contribute to its success. My work is also deeply rooted in exploring the hierarchies within Dominican families. Doing so begins a narrative around the disregard for women & the gender roles that are placed on them. Gender roles prevent education, societal change, & progression. The lack of knowledge and critical-thinking around these issues have driven me to base my senior project on them.
