¿Por Qué en Español?

I’ve often been asked why so much of my art is titled in Spanish. The short answer? Spanish hits different.

I spoke Spanish first. It’s my original language. I didn’t really speak English until First Grade 2.0; I was held back my first year because I didn’t speak or understand English very well at the time. Spanish was the language of family, inside jokes, slang, scoldings, and homemade tortillas. Over time, English took over as my dominant language; school, work, emails, etc. My professional life has been in English, but Spanish still lives deeper within me - and always will. Like it’s wired closer to my emotional switchboard chingadera.

So, when I title a piece something like Juegos Amorosos, La Sirena del Maguey, or El Futuro Se Paso, it’s not just for style or cultural flair. It’s because those words feel more personal, more visceral. They cut straight to the feeling I’m chasing in the work, where it came from. English is precise and can feel a little cold to a part of me, but Spanish? Spanish is emotional. It’s dramatic. It’s funny. It’s passionate. It knows how to cuss properly. It can be poetic and earthy at the same time.

Sometimes I’ll try a title in English, and it just feels...a little flat. And that can be fine when I want an understated (to me), straightforward title, or when the word is easily understood in either language. I also take this approach with Español too – when a simple or direct word feels right. But in Spanish, the whole thing lights up; the intent, the rhythm, the humor, it’s all-encompassing. I think many, if not most Spanish speakers feel the same way. But even if you don’t speak the language, I think you can feel that spark.

Using Spanish is also a subtle way to honor where I come from, and those who came before me. It keeps me connected to my roots and grounded, without making a big speech about it. And for folks who do speak it, it opens up a little doorway into the work, like a wink and a smile that says, “You get it.” And I’ll admit, it’s also a little jab at those who still tell me to “speak English.”

So no, you don’t have to speak Spanish to feel the work. But if you do, you might catch a few extra layers; some mischief, some melancholy, some joy that live in the words as well as the visuals.

Plus, you can always ask me.

Gracias por la curiosidad.