Biblical Studies student Mauricio Martinez, a Cree-Slavadorian rapper and street artist, designs a mural project reflecting on his perspective on truth and reconciliation.
The mural, Hodos, is exhibiting at the TWU SAMC Gallery September 27 – November 7, 2024.
...The vision was to explore the stories of truth and reconciliation unfolding within our own campus community.
Partnering with TWU Indigenous Initiatives
For the past two years, the SAMC Gallery has been hosting annual exhibitions in partnership with Trinity Western’s Day of Learning for Truth and Reconciliation, led by TWU Indigenous Initiatives.
Previously, SAMC's Art + Design department, in consultation with Siyá:m Patricia Victor Switametelót, had invited Indigenous artists from outside the TWU community to present their work in the form of solo exhibitions.
This year, the vision was to explore the stories of truth and reconciliation unfolding within our own campus community.
Indigenous perspectives on campus
Biblical Studies student Mauricio Martinez, a Cree-Slavadorian rapper and street artist, was invited by the Art + Design department to design a street-art mural reflecting on his perspective on truth and reconciliation.
Martinez designed and created a mural incorporating lyrics from his raps and his street art aesthetic to express how he has grappled with the truth of his own past and found healing and reconciliation.
He was mentored through this process by Indigenous artist Bear Barnetson and Art + Design professor Alysha Creighton.
Martinez emblazoned colourful graffiti tags and images that point to his ongoing journey of healing and recovery.
Using ink and rap lyrics to tell his story
This mural takes the image of a dark tomb as its starting point. Beginning with a dark background, Martinez, in collaboration with TWU students, wrote out rap lyrics in many different styles of grey text—exploring his struggles in foster care, prison and addictions, interspersed with passages of Scripture that have given him hope through these dark times.
Overlaid on these texts, Martinez emblazoned colourful graffiti tags and images that point to his ongoing journey of healing and recovery.
A collaboration of artists
Professor Alysha Creighton expresses that the Department of Art + Design is honoured to present this work and grateful to Mauricio for his courage and vulnerability in sharing his story.
This graffiti-style mural reflecting on the meaning of reconciliation within the TWU community was designed and created by Indigenous artist and TWU student Mauricio Martinez in collaboration with Art + Design students, including Jada Chetty, Esther Jungnikel, Gabrielle Medrano, Amori Rivera, Zoe Towne, Katie Vermeulen, and Martin Wang.
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About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has campuses in Canada in Langley, Richmond, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.