Aldana Balarezo GarcÌa-Godos: IB Art Exhibition, 2022

No gastes lagrimas
Charcoal on paper, 48cm x 60cm

Meaning, don’t waste tears in Spanish ,this self portrait is about my struggles with anxiety and a desire to shield myself from those around me. This fear is communicated by my hands. The eyes are a particular powerful focal point that through their hyperrealism, convey the overfixation of my surroundings. The slight smile contrasts the message of the eyes, to convey my need to dissimulate my anxiety.

If looks could kill
Charcoal on paper, 40cm x 25cm

This piece is a self-portrait based on my experience during quarantine when I was placed in a psychiatric hold due to a panic attack over my brother’s death. I had never felt more judged in my life; by strangers and family too. Including my friends and family’s eyes in my composition, I mimicked this affliction I felt at this moment and throughout my struggle with mental health. I also included my own eyes at different ages as a reference to self-judgment.

Mama?
oil on canvas, 60cm x 30cm

I tried to communicate the sense of loss that I felt when my siblings passed away. The portrait of my mother embodies this loss in a tangible way. The blank stare represents sadness, dread, and despair. The viewer may feel a deeper connection to the portrait if they too have experienced loss, and resonate with the pain. I hope they feel a sense of understanding as they see another individual’s similar experience.