Artist Statement:

My narrative-based paintings draw from the personal teachings of my parents, who migrated to the U.S. as undocumented children in the '80s, fleeing the Civil War in El Salvador. Their influence shapes my exploration of themes like curses, wounds, and intergenerational trauma. Through my work, I examine the aftereffects of war—spanning capitalism, religion, mental health, family, and death—and their relationship to one another. Each piece reflects the stories of my family, often named after them, and incorporates vivid colors, contorted figures, and painted-collaged memories. I use materials such as found objects, burlap bags, wire, fabric, and acrylics, pushing boundaries to express complex emotional landscapes. 

Tiled framing, a central material in my work, represents fragility while simultaneously referencing the architectural designs found in El Salvador. This element highlights the vulnerability inherent in healing, mirroring the resilience found within the decay of broken systems. Just as tiles cover surfaces in Salvadoran homes, they also symbolize the layered experiences of trauma and recovery—complex and often fragmented, yet part of a larger, meaningful whole.

The presence of scorpions in my work, specifically their connection to my last name *Alarcón* (which sounds like *alacrán* in Spanish), evokes growth through love and the contradictions found in Central American cultural relationships with animals. Scorpions, traditionally feared, represent the beauty of loving something that could also harm you—an ongoing metaphor for the tension between survival and tenderness. I also consider the paradox in the treatment of dogs, often abused despite their role in Mayan beliefs as guides to the afterlife. This duality of animal symbolism mirrors the contradictions within myself, between the two homes I occupy—El Salvador and the U.S.—and the fragile moments of connection I strive to cherish.

Barbed wire and broken glass are recurring motifs in my work, representing the physical and emotional wounds left by trauma. The labor my father endured as a migrant worker on coffee plantations mirrors the broader experience of exploitation under capitalism. Just as workers are bound by invisible barriers, these materials reflect the sharp and painful realities of survival—both personal and collective. Ultimately, my art seeks to give voice to those untold stories of suffering and resilience, and I hope it resonates with others who share similar experiences. Healing, for me, lies not in forgetting, but in understanding and embracing the vulnerability of the past, and allowing it to inform a more compassionate future.

Leave a Message:

︎ 240.601.5420
︎ delcon.sketch@gmail.com
︎@delzyalacran