The Dust or the Wind, Perhaps

Abstract

This thesis explores the interdisciplinary project created for my MFA exhibition. It introduces two economic and labor paradigms, "neo eco capitalism" and "Teslim," –which my work challenges–to provide the context to understand the relevance of the methodologies applied in the process. This document presents these two concepts for the first time and uses Elon Musk's figure and corporate model to elaborate on their meaning. I focus my work on Las Cumbres, my neighborhood in Tijuana, Mexico. To complete this project, I have taken photographs, gathered interviews with neighbors and maquiladora workers, created collages and sculptures that invoke mythical creatures, recorded videos of our collective work and audios of our collective memory, organized art workshops for horizontal learning, and established a communal library in my front yard for encounters that seeks to foster trust and joy. In The dust or the wind, perhaps/El viento o el polvo, tal vez, I suggest that communities like Las Cumbres play a pivotal role in envisioning and building a different future through epistemic resistance. This exploration challenges the prevailing dystopian outlook, offering a glimpse into strategies and alliances that will pave the way for a stronger future.