My artistic practice explores the odd and the curious, creating illustrative narratives that bridge the gap between the conscious and the subconscious. Through my work, I examine how hierarchical systems of power disguise violence beneath a veneer of innocence. I utilize childlike imagery and unsettling narratives to expose the tense friction between play and cruelty.
As a research-based artist from Chicago, my fascination with the history of the Chicago Union Stockyards drives me to depict raw meat and internal organs in my artwork. By removing blood and focusing on stripped, anatomical entities, I invite a wider audience to walk the fine line between psychological horror and gore. Specifically inspired by the history of child labor within the stockyards, I craft stories of children who wear domesticated animal masks. While their identities remain concealed, these characters commit disturbing acts—a direct commentary on society’s normalization of systemic and political abuse. Integrating familiar stuffed animals and vintage toys reinforces the characters’ youth while triggering a nostalgic familiarity for the viewer. These narrative worlds investigate childhood wonder and cognitive dissonance, prompting the audience to ask: “Is this world truly menacing, or is it just a fantasy?”
Working with graphite, ink, conté crayon, and drypoint, I create highly detailed, medium and large-scale black and white works on paper designed to balance dark humor with immediate shock value. My meticulous cross-hatching techniques mimic the aesthetics of Victorian illustration and vintage children’s books, evoking a sense of nostalgia that is simultaneously joyful and horrifying. Similarly, by adopting the formal composition of Victorian portraiture, I challenge the viewer to find artwork visually entertaining while experiencing underlying fear and discomfort. Ultimately, my satisfaction in making the audience squirm is what compels me to build these strange worlds populated by strange characters.
-Dalila Mendez
Dalila Mendez 