Jessica A. Rodríguez
afrontaciones => (f.) copings
Narrativas de la Memoria y la Violencia del habitar
On view June 29 – September 4, 2026
Reception: Thursday, July 9, 7–9pm
DVSA Galleries
Dundas Valley School of Art
21 Ogilvie St, Dundas, ON
About
afrontaciones => (f.) copings is an auto-ethnographic and artistic project centred on the practice of creating “testimonies” and collective story-sharing through the complex layers of inhabiting a city crossed by violence.
This project combines six audio-video testimonies shared by individuals from Rodríguez’s hometown, Uruapan (Mexico), and one self-testimony. These personal narratives form the basis for an exploration of memory, identity, violence, and connection. The testimonies are brought together through a tapestry of digital, printed, and installation-based materials that create the project’s immersive experience.
These materials include the original Spanish-language audio testimonies, newly produced English dubbing versions, mixed-media collages made through photo-lithography, stamping, collage, and other hand-printing techniques, typed testimonies, a tape-recorded self-testimony, recorded videos from my hometown, found footage, and video sections developed from each of the testimonies.
Recommendations for Enjoying AFRONTACIONES
By Rolando Rodriguez Guizar
afrontaciones => (f.) copings is an auto-ethnographic and artistic project centred on the practice of creating “testimonies” and collective story-sharing through the complex layers of inhabiting a city crossed by violence.
The exhibition “Afrontaciones” presents itself as a space of encounter where contemporary art deploys its radical power: the capacity to generate realities from the spectator’s experience. This show is not offered as a collection of works waiting to be deciphered, but rather as a territory where perception becomes the true material-and for this reason, we recommend:
1. LEAP INTO THE VOID: If it is true that those who leap into the void owe no explanation to any spectator who stops to gaze upon what is exhibited. This is how art itself begins to create realities.
2. BELIEVE: Afrontacionesis a testimony told in the first person, like the voices that say: “We grew up in a big family,” “It happened to me,” “It was dangerous for women,” “I used to ride my bicycle,” “No one would stop you,” “You could travel safe.”Anyone who hears or reads these phrases -taken randomly from the recordings that generate this exhibition- will construct a free interpretation of what, collectively, they are experiencing as they navigate the narrow corridors of the gallery.
3. EXPECT NOTHING: We could spend countless words explaining the reasons behind this exhibition, but we would rather not spare you the leap into the void that becomes necessary as you move through the gallery’s space and time. More importantly, doing so would diminish your ability, as a viewer, to construct your own realities.
4. DON’T ASK. Words could be spent explaining the motives behind the exhibition, but we do not wish to spare you the leap into the void that is necessary to take as you traverse the space-time of the gallery; and above all, we would be undermining your capacity as spectator to construct your own realities.
5. DO NOT END THE WORK HERE. Take it with you—in your memory, in its lingering taste, in its scent, in whatever was offered for you to sample, in the conversations you shared, and in the few or many words exchanged with the artist.
Then, whenever you wish -when you are ready- allow it to return as a memory.
Recomendaciones para disfrutar de AFRONTACIONES
Por Rolando Rodriguez Guizar
La exhibición Afrontaciones se presenta como un espacio de encuentro donde el arte contemporáneo despliega un poder radical: la capacidad de generar realidades a partir del espectador. Esta muestra no se ofrece como un conjunto de obras que esperan ser descifradas, sino como un territorio donde la percepción se convierte en el verdadero material físico por eso recomendamos:
1. Salta al vacío: Si es verdad que los que saltan al vacío no le deben ninguna explicación a los que se paran a ver; entonces el arte contemporáneo no le debe explicación a ningún espectador que se detenga a mirar lo exhibido. Es así como el arte mismo comienza a crear realidades.
2. Cree: Afrontaciones es el testimonio que se relata en primera persona como aquellos que declaran: “Hemos crecido en una familia con muchos, muchos primos y niños”, “Me ha pasado a mí”, “Era peligroso para las mujeres”, ‘Solía andar en bicicleta”, Nadie te paraba”, “Se podía viajar tranquilo”. Cualquiera que escuche o lea estas frases tomadas aleatoriamente de las grabaciones que generaron esta exhibición construirá una interpretación libre de lo que, en conjunto, está experimentando mientras navega por los delgados pasillos de la galería.
3. No esperes nada: No hay nada que explicar mientras miras, con detalle o sin él, los 15 segundos que ahora nos toma la obra de la mirada. Lo que sucederá después es lo más interesante porque se refiere a la percepción, y en consecuencia a la propia interpretación que construirá una realidad: la del espectador.
4. No preguntes: Se podrían gastar palabras para explicar los motivos de la exhibición, pero no te queremos ahorrar el salto al vacío que es necesario dar mientras transitas el espacio tiempo de la galería; y sobre todo, estarías echando a perder tu capacidad como espectador para construir tus propias realidades.
5. No termines la obra aquí. Llevatela en la memoria, en el sabor, en el olor del al lado, en lo que se te ofreció para degustar, en las opiniones intercambiadas, en las pocas o muchas palabras que quien exhibió te compartió. Después, con tranquilidad, en el momento que quieras, cuando estés listo o lista recuperarla como un recuerdo en la memoria.
Biography
Jessica A. Rodríguez (Mexico-Canada) is a media artist, designer, and researcher specializing in audiovisual practices and live coding for live visual music. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication, New Media, and Cultural Studies from McMaster University. She is the co-founder of Andamio.in, collaborative platform that brings together artists from different geographical locations, centre on the union of sound, moving images, and storytelling practices.
Summer Gallery Hours
Monday & Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Closures: July 1 (Canada Day), August 3 (Civic Holiday)
DVSA Gallery is supported by incite Foundation for the Arts