Zacarias Bernal
My name is Zacarías (XAKAZ) Bernal (he/him). I grew up on the Eastside of LA, the city of Montebello, and the San Gabriel Valley. I use photography to raise political and cultural consciousness. Self-identifying as Xicano informs decolonial messages in my art. I currently work at Tía Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore where I organize arts and ancestral knowledge classes in the North East San Fernando Valley and facilitate a cultural music class in Chino State Prison.
Instagram: xakariazb
WORKS
NO NOS CONQUISTARON 35MM 16" x 16" -2023
THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT LA PLACITA OLVERA IN DOWNTOWN LA DURING A CEREMONY. EXPERIENCING THIS ENERGY CALLED ME TO WHERE I FIND MYSELF ON THE MEXICAYOTL TODAY. MY FAMILY USED TO WORK IN THE PARKING LOTS HERE. RICARDO FLORES MAGÓN ONCE GAVE SPEECHES HERE TO RADICALIZE MEXICAN-AMERICANS AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE DURING THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION. TONGVA PEOPLE ONCE THRIVED ON THIS LAND AND ARE NOW BURIED IN IT. THIS IS RESISTANCE. THIS IS EVERYDAY. THERE IS POWER IN RITUAL AND REMEMBERING WHO YOU ARE. NO HXSTORY. NO SELF. KNOW HXSTORY. KNOW SELF. THIS IS WHY WE SAY NO NOS CONQUISTARON.