Eilen Itzel Mena x Kancan

Eilen Itzel Mena x Kancan

SUN SHOWER, 2020

Kancan Denim Fabrics, Canvas,
Tumeric Powder, Sequins, Thread, Bleach

 

 

 

 

 

“The process of artmaking is decoding yourself. It’s like you’re making your own dictionary.”

-EILEN ITZEL MENA- 

 

 

 

 

 Photography copyright © by Alejandro Araujo

 

  ABOUT THE ARTIST

 Eilen Itzel Mena is multimedia artist and community organizer from the South Bronx currently based in Los Angeles. Eilen Itzel Mena's arts practice synthesizes Abstract Expressionism, Surrealism and African Diaspora spiritual frameworks through painting and performance work. 

 

 

 

 

MEANING OF DENIM

 For artist, Eilen Itzel Mena, denim means family, comfort, resourcefulness and nostalgia. Eilen looks back on her childhood when her grandparents would often take her and her cousins to the neighborhood thrift stores. Eilen remembers always looking for the perfect, classic denim jacket that would carry her through the fall that she could style with anything. Eilen describes denim as a classic material that no matter the age or what style you’re going for, you’ll find at least one thing that has denim in the wardrobe.

 

ABOUT THE WORK

 For her Artist x Kancan collaboration piece, Eilen gave new life and meaning to the recycled Kancan denim fabrics by creating an imagery of the rainbow; highlighting her middle name Itzel which means, “of the rainbow” as well as tying in her personal connections in signifying her siblings (as she is one of 3), her admiration of rainbows, and the metaphorical symbolization of hope after the storm. Eilen applied her personality and inspiration in expressing her creativity and vision with the use of bleach, dying, and sewing to represent the trinity of light: blue, yellow, and red found in a rainbow. 

 

Website: eilenitzelmena.com

Instagram: @eilen.itzel.mena/