El Carnaval Que No Pasó

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Dates

2022 - Ongoing
Author

Victoria Ruiz
Location London, United Kingdom

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El Carnaval Que No Pasó: A surreal take on the empty promises and Venezuelan crisis through the lens of Carnival.

El Carnaval Que No Pasó.

El Carnaval Que No Pasó translates to ‘the carnaval that did not happen’. In this series, I am telling the story of one of Venezuela’s darkest periods through the carnivalesque and the surreal. It is a series that depicts the promises that the government made for the country but, in the end, did not happen. El Carnaval Que No Pasó is born from my experience of the Venezuelan crisis, depicting my interpretation of the citizen’s dreams and the reality Venezuelans face.

La Resistencia. The image depicts two 'Flower Skin' civilians standing side by side, holding onto hope and each other amidst the desolation of the Venezuelan crisis. Their bodies are adorned with sculptural, flower-inspired garments that symbolize resilience and beauty in the face of hardship. La resistencia in Venezuela refers to the enduring struggle of the Venezuelan people.

El Bravo Pueblo. "El bravo pueblo" holds deep significance in Venezuela as a symbol of the nation's resilience, strength, and spirit. The phrase translates to "the brave people," and it is often used to honor the Venezuelan population's unwavering courage and defiance in the face of hardship.

Plomo. Tiroteos, or gunfire incidents, have become a tragic and frequent occurrence in Venezuela, particularly in the context of the country's ongoing crisis. Widespread violence, fueled by political instability, economic collapse, and the breakdown of law and order, has led to an increase in gun-related confrontations between various factions, including armed groups, police, and civilians.

Tiroteo. 'Tiroteo' in English means gunfire. This suit is meant to mimic the motion of bullets entering a persons body.

El Diablito. My interpretation of The Diablos de Yare (Devils of Yare) are a traditional and vibrant cultural celebration that takes place in the town of Yare, in the state of Miranda, Venezuela, during the festivities of Corpus Christi, which usually falls in June.

El Diablito. Looking at the darkness that has captured the country and those in power.

La Represión. Repression in Venezuela, is a systematic phenomenon of control and violence against political and social dissent. It manifests through violent suppression of protests, where security forces and armed collectives attack demonstrators with firearms, tear gas, and rubber bullets, causing deaths and injuries.

El Soldado. The soldier is a brainwashed character whose brain is being eaten by the blue parrot. This bird is a symbol of the capital of Venezuela; Caracas. The 8 stars are representative of the flag and its history of government intervention.

Las Promesas. The promises that the government will put down their weapons against their civilians. Here the repression force has slingshots and the civilians are the ones who have the weapons. It is a roles reversed situation and empty promise told by the government.

Mi Bandera. My 'Flower Skin' wearing the Venezuelan flag representing life in a place of death.