No Soy El Sol Que Quema (I Am Not The Sun That Burns)

No Soy El Sol Que Quema is a solo exhibition by artist Andres Garzon. Meditating on my long and complicated relationship with religion (having left the Jehova’s Witnesses in 2018), I’ve been creating new artworks in an attempt to work through homophobia deeply embedded in me since childhood. Coupled with the migration of my family from sunny Bogotá, Colombia to London, Ontario in 2001, I started reflecting on how these experiences overlap, especially when defining my identity as a son, brother, and gay person. Speaking on sacrifice, sainthood, queerness, and honour, this series of works aim to retell the story of my new search for God in the world around me; in family, nature, diaries, music, and myself.



Spanish Translation:

No Soy El Sol Que Quema es una exposición por artista Andrés Garzon. Meditando sobre mi larga y complicada relación con religión (dejando los Testigos de Jehová en 2018), he creado estas nuevas obras de arte con el fin de superar la homofobia que ha existido en mi desde mi niñez. Juntada con la migración de mi familia de la ciudad soleada de Bogotá, Colombia a London, Ontario en 2001, también refleje en como cruzan estas experiencias, especialmente cuando vino el tiempo en definir mi identidad como hijo, hermano y homosexual. Tocando en temas de sacrificio, santidad, raridad y honor, está serie de obras intenta recontar la historia de mi nueva búsqueda por Dios en el mundo que me rodea; en mi familia, la naturaleza, diarios, música y en mí mismo.



Artist bio:

Andres Garzon is a multidisciplinary queer Colombian-Canadian artist, based in Antler River, Treaty 6, London, Ontario. A new generation artist and first generation immigrant, the central parts of his practice – history, family, love and identity – inform his artwork and writing practices. Through drawing, painting and installation, his work explores queer experience and the many ways it overlaps with cultural assimilation. Andres’ artwork and writings have been featured in MUSE Magazine, See Collective, and Huron & Erie Regional Digest. He is a current resident artist at Good Sport Gallery & Studio.

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This exhibition was made possible by the London Arts Council, through the Community Arts Investment Program (CAIP).

andresgarzon.ca | @studioandresgarzon