Inheritance from my father: $1

The last time I saw my parents was seven years ago, standing together by the airport entrance as I prepared to leave Venezuela, not knowing when I might return and amidst political turmoil and economic collapse. Seeing them so close to each other was a rarity; they have been separated for over 35 years. They looked old and somewhat fragile to my eyes, and I feared they might pass away before I could return. My father, a strong-headed former political figure, stood stoically before me. Though every project for a better country had failed and he had fallen, he was not defeated. He asked if I was hungry and handed me a substantial sum of money for chocolate. However, I could not bring myself to spend it.

For years, that money sat in my bag as I traveled from Venezuela to Peru and then to the U.S. I often reflected on this money — a legacy, an inheritance, a form of value that had lost all its worth the moment my plane ascended from that airport.

"Inheritance from My Father: $1" is a testament to an economy in distress and the enduring threads of familial legacy. The work, sized 22” x 62”, mirrors the constrained passage through which monetary and sentimental worth are handed down from generation to generation.

The Bolivar bills my father gave me are woven into this fabric, now stripped of their purchasing power but infused with the essence of heritage. This transformation of devalued paper into a textile imbues the work with a narrative that transcends fiscal depreciation, spotlighting the irreplaceable value of a father's gesture.

The narrative culminates in a black block, starkly contrasting the colorful currency that precedes it. This visual full stop symbolizes both an interruption—a halt to my father's direct influence—and an invitation to reflect on the lingering impact of our loved ones. It is not an end but a portal, urging us to ponder the unseen, ever-present legacies that shape us.

While modest in scale, this artwork invites viewers to question the actual worth of legacy against the backdrop of life's challenges. "Inheritance from My Father: $1" reflects the immeasurable value of our inherited bonds, compelling us to consider what truly defines our wealth.