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She Who Found Grace
22,586
Also by Rocio De Alba —
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She Who Found Grace
Location: Middle Village
Nationality: Hispanic
Focus:
Photographer, Filmmaker
Covering:
Asia,
Europe,
Latin America,
Middle East,
USA & Canada
Skills:
Digital Printing, Photo Assisting, Book Layout/Design, Photo Editing, Color Printing, Storyboarding, Mixed Media, Print Making, Branding, Exhibition Design, Multimedia Production, Print Design, Retouching
1 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
The Incredible Disappearing Woman, 2018
When I was in my teens and twenties, every time I walked about the streets, men would shout-out cat calls or pull their cars over to ask me out on dates. Now, as I stroll about window shopping or on my many travels around the world, neither of those things happen. I feel as if I have become invisible to men.
When I was in my teens and twenties, every time I walked about the streets, men would shout-out cat calls or pull their cars over to ask me out on dates. Now, as I stroll about window shopping or on my many travels around the world, neither of those things happen. I feel as if I have become invisible to men.
2 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Beautifully Grotesque, 2018
I was a late bloomer and a scrawny kid. When my breast grew-in, they were perky but very small. Every night, I prayed for larger breast. In my twenties I vowed to get implants but could not afford them. When I became premenopausal, I gained a ton of weight and my breast grew twice their size. Though society may reference them as 'imperfections,' touching my rolls and heavy breasts sexually arouse me. For the first time, after decades of wishing I was different, I achieved an unyielding love for my body.
I was a late bloomer and a scrawny kid. When my breast grew-in, they were perky but very small. Every night, I prayed for larger breast. In my twenties I vowed to get implants but could not afford them. When I became premenopausal, I gained a ton of weight and my breast grew twice their size. Though society may reference them as 'imperfections,' touching my rolls and heavy breasts sexually arouse me. For the first time, after decades of wishing I was different, I achieved an unyielding love for my body.
3 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Never Hide Your Smile, 2019
Ever since I can remember, I received compliments on my "beautiful smile." When I moved to New York for art school, my coffee intake increased and I became a smoker. Now, most of my front teeth are yellow or decaying so I began to place my hands over my mouth whenever I smile. One day a childhood friend I had not seen in years noticed this new habit and reprimanded me. I have made great stride in breaking my embarrassment towards my aging teeth.
Ever since I can remember, I received compliments on my "beautiful smile." When I moved to New York for art school, my coffee intake increased and I became a smoker. Now, most of my front teeth are yellow or decaying so I began to place my hands over my mouth whenever I smile. One day a childhood friend I had not seen in years noticed this new habit and reprimanded me. I have made great stride in breaking my embarrassment towards my aging teeth.
4 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Generation Mountain, 2018
My grandmother suffered from a crippling case of bunions. She was always in pain and found it difficult to walk. About ten years ago, my mother developed the same condition but underwent an osteotomy. The condition is hereditary so I have the same issue. However, my insurance will not cover the procedure until the bone deformity is reaches a severe stage, regardless of the pain.
My grandmother suffered from a crippling case of bunions. She was always in pain and found it difficult to walk. About ten years ago, my mother developed the same condition but underwent an osteotomy. The condition is hereditary so I have the same issue. However, my insurance will not cover the procedure until the bone deformity is reaches a severe stage, regardless of the pain.
5 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Nosotras, 2023
When I was five years old, I met my great-great grandmother. She was completely blind as a result of untreated cataracts. In a rural region such as Sonzacate, El Salvador where she lived and enjoyed a comfortable life, it was common for the elderly to suffer from this curable eye condition. There simply were no ophthalmologist in town. In 2022 during my yearly eye exam, the optometrist informed me that I have the beginning stages of cataracts. This year I have began to loose precision in my peripheral vision.
When I was five years old, I met my great-great grandmother. She was completely blind as a result of untreated cataracts. In a rural region such as Sonzacate, El Salvador where she lived and enjoyed a comfortable life, it was common for the elderly to suffer from this curable eye condition. There simply were no ophthalmologist in town. In 2022 during my yearly eye exam, the optometrist informed me that I have the beginning stages of cataracts. This year I have began to loose precision in my peripheral vision.
6 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Chinny Chin Chin, 2019
For some odd reason, hair has began to grow in the oddest places of my body. This is not a photograph of my chin.
For some odd reason, hair has began to grow in the oddest places of my body. This is not a photograph of my chin.
7 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Perspective
I always adored my pot belly. However, at nineteen, my very first boyfriend described it as a negative attribute. This started my battle with bulimia that ended in my late thirties. As a result of this extreme weight gain and loss, compiled with three full term pregnancies, my stomach skin sags and is riddled with stretch marks. The older I get, the more pronounce these become. A couple of years ago, I was on a date with a man who pursued me aggressively. On our third date, he took me to restaurant on the beach. As the waiter pulled my chair, the wind blew my silk blouse over my face revealing my stomach. I didn't hear from him again,
I always adored my pot belly. However, at nineteen, my very first boyfriend described it as a negative attribute. This started my battle with bulimia that ended in my late thirties. As a result of this extreme weight gain and loss, compiled with three full term pregnancies, my stomach skin sags and is riddled with stretch marks. The older I get, the more pronounce these become. A couple of years ago, I was on a date with a man who pursued me aggressively. On our third date, he took me to restaurant on the beach. As the waiter pulled my chair, the wind blew my silk blouse over my face revealing my stomach. I didn't hear from him again,
8 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, 2023
9 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
10 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
11 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Broken Wax Promises, 2019
My father was a very hairy man. Of all places, I inherited his hairiness in my arms. I was a true daddy's girl so he adored this attribute of mine, and often combed my arm hair with his hands. After we moved to the U.S.A. and began middle school,\ two American girls mocked my hairiness. I have shaved religiously since.
My father was a very hairy man. Of all places, I inherited his hairiness in my arms. I was a true daddy's girl so he adored this attribute of mine, and often combed my arm hair with his hands. After we moved to the U.S.A. and began middle school,\ two American girls mocked my hairiness. I have shaved religiously since.
12 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Botox Fail, 2021
As a light skinned Latina, other Latinos mistake me for a 'white girl'. Some said the only dead give-away were my full lips. When a woman reaches middle age, it is medically common for her lips to thin. Concerned the only attribute identifying me as Hispanic was fading, I had botox injected in my lips. unfortunately, I developed an infection that almost disfigured them.
As a light skinned Latina, other Latinos mistake me for a 'white girl'. Some said the only dead give-away were my full lips. When a woman reaches middle age, it is medically common for her lips to thin. Concerned the only attribute identifying me as Hispanic was fading, I had botox injected in my lips. unfortunately, I developed an infection that almost disfigured them.
13 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
Liver Spot Canyon, 2019
I always wanted a mole on the side of my upper lip, similar to those sexy models and movies stars have. In 2019, I noticed moles developing in various areas of my body. None have grown on my upper lip.
I always wanted a mole on the side of my upper lip, similar to those sexy models and movies stars have. In 2019, I noticed moles developing in various areas of my body. None have grown on my upper lip.
14 of 16
© 2024 Rocio De Alba
New Directions, 2018
I once heard it said that a woman's wrinkle lines are the road map to her life story. I don't know what mine are saying.
My Movie from Rocio De Alba on Vimeo.
S H E W H O F O U N D G R A C E
In this slow developing series, I apply macro compositions and multimedia principles to chronicle my journey towards “radical acceptance of death.” Enlisting scientific and academic approaches, I embark on this cathartic endeavor by adopting ideologies from renowned theologians, philosophers, and contemporary artists actively pursuing healthy dialogues that attempt to shift society’s adverse perceptions of death.
In this quest I found peace by discovering that although end of life is inevitable, multiple components of my body are slowly dying the longer I live! This revelation commenced a healing process that further arouse my intrigue with self-portraiture. Unlike my previous projects, in this series, I combine engaging and inviting colors with brazen images of my naked body – often in states of extreme grotesque - to document the physical transition organically produced by aging. Working against male-dominant history of idealized female nude portraits, my images denounce marginalized dialogues about body shaming and death.
To further convey my concept, images are printed on digital film that are transferred onto a pork gelatin marble fresco embedded on top of 20x24" Medex wood panel substrates. Due to its propensity to mold, the founders of this fresco add a food preservative called Agar-Agar. If not for this additive, the images would fade and the gelatin would decay. My decision to employ this digital alchemy further negates society's obsession with youth, and our tenacity to defy that which is destined to expire.
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