In my past paintings, I tried to figure out why my subjects had me empathizing with strangers. Looking back on my Mexican-American upbringing, I realized how society and my communal culture are influencing the way I think and process information. So, for this body of work, the physical fragmentation of the figure alludes to a psychological fragmentation. In this case, it is as if the figure cannot withstand the tension and is barely able to remain whole and recognizable. What remains of the person is trying to repair itself. The pressure in my mind is between the values of general society and my family community. I am trying to choose the best traits from the contradicting moralities of each. These two forces are very much alive in my actio...