Diego Ramírez





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I am a ‘diaspora’ Latinx. Hola. It means everyone back home thinks I am basic

IN DEVELOPMENT
Performance/Installation, 2022


I am a ‘diaspora’ Latinx. Hola. It means everyone back home thinks I am basic is a live performance of a devil breaking a black piñata. Ramírez corrupts this childhood memory to resemble a sadistic scene, amplifying the darker connotations of this festive ritual. This performance began as a subtle image of pandemic (from the god Pan) that reflects on the nexus between North-South relationships, disease, and capitalism. However, Ramirez’ re-shifted this focus over time as a satire of diaspora art in alignment with his wider push and pull with identity politics, as evidenced in his writing.  It also draws from his prior research on the evolving iconography of the devil in art history. The work is made in collaboration with Zamara Zamara on fabrication and Bonnie Cummings on sound.

This project is funded by Multicultural Arts Victoria, as part of their Represent Commisions, scheduled for a 2022 exhibition in Diasporas Festival. 

@W3lln3ss_Cul✝ 

IN PRE DEVELOPMENT
Various mediums, 2023


@W3lln3ss_Cul✝ is a fiction about a therapist influencer who is possessed by dark forces. It is  inspired by a real life pastor who turned his back on the church to become a social media therapist. This body of work employs a range of materials that look at the unhealthfulness of online wellness culture. While weaving a supernatural narrative that connects therapy influencers with art historical depictions of the devil. This project consolidates Ramirez’s ongoing interest in media, religious iconography, performance and identity politics. 

@W3lln3ss_Cul✝ is Ramirez’ first solo show since 2019 and is set to be presented at MARS Gallery. 

 

We are all bad people 

IN PRE DEVELOPMENT
Animation, 202X


We are all bad people (5min) is an animation that satirises the art world’s moral antics that flag ‘change’ and ‘transformation’ in the context of identity politics. In this satirical cartoon, a Social-Change-Curator kills an Identity-Politics-Artist, during a zombie outbreak, and summons cartoon characters from a 70s Saturday morning cartoon to feign a mystery murder in social media and stage an outrage to advance his career, but the cartoons are morally appalled.
Ramirez acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land where he lives and works, the Wurundjeri people. He pays his respects to Elders past, present and emerging of the Kulin Nation.