The photographs of Alexa Torre are aesthetically pleasing pieces rich in color with a pinch of irony set to make the viewer question the social structures and, by doing so, gain consciousness of their identity and culture. In her series, Mexican Utopian, Torre focuses on women dressed in traditional Mexican clothing to make the people of her country fall back in love with their history and tradition and re-generate an identity lost due to globalization. Seeing the images from this series can transport anyone, whether Mexican or not, to the beautiful colorful country of Mexico.
Torre's work investigates how color impacts the way we all see the world and the various societal structures put in place to identify the "other". Gender and cultural stereotypes are the main themes found in her work.
Torre studied Communication Sciences at the Anahuac University in Mexico and photography at the New England School of Photography in Boston, USA. Her work has been exhibited internationally and featured in magazines such as National Geographic and HuffPost, to name a few.
I had the opportunity to sit down with the artist for an interview to learn more about her work and practice. Please continue reading to find out what inspires her and what to expect from her upcoming work.
Tell us about who you are and what you do. What’s your background?
I am a visual artist and a photographer and I work with different themes, but primarily themes surrounding women. I´ve been working on my art professionally for ten years. I studied Communication and then specialized in Fine Art Photography. I think in these years my photographic work has evolved somehow, of course, but the use of color or contrast has been permanent.
What does your work aim to say? What are the major themes you pursue in your work?
In my work I like people to see and to understand it on their own. I sometimes put humor in it or sometimes colors to say what I want to say or how I feel. My work is understood during the looking, reading and analyzing- I should say my photography is somehow conceptual.
What series or artistic project are you currently working on?
Right now I'm working on a project about skies, EN LA NUBE. It’s a collection of clouds that I’ve been documenting for a long time. You know that looking at the sky and finding shapes and some sense of something in the clouds is therapeutic, maybe that’s why I do it. But I must say I love clouds!! Who doesn’t?
Has your creativity been affected by the pandemic, if so in what way?
Well, it has- It’s been a little tough because I have a young son, so I have limited time to think and create. It’s a little frustrating seeing on social media people being super creative and me just going slow, but it's better to be slow than creating nothing.
How is life for an artist living in Mexico?
I love it!! Everything can happen in Mexico, you see surreal things on the streets, and it’s a cheap place to grow as an artist. I lived in Mexico City for six years and it was amazing, but I came back to my hometown Merida after my kid was born and I'm so happy I'm here even though the pandemic hasn't been so good for interacting but the artist life and circle is growing here and it’s very international.
If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
Definitely a very bright Rothko.
Follow Alexa Torre on Instagram @lexietorre
Website: https://www.alexatorre.com/