As many of you know, my husband and I are currently living in a new locale every three months.  Each new place has its own personality and part of the excitement ( and scariness! ) of our journey is to find where we fit within each community.  Peruvian-born artist Cecilia Paredes‘ work explores, what to me, are very personal themes of displacement and relocation.

Parades uses make-up, body paint and costume to visually blend into intricate backgrounds.  This visualisation of our desire to fit, to be a part of who or what surrounds us resonates with me, not only as someone not currently rooted, but also because I am in many ways, still learning who am I apart from what or who surrounds me.

In each image, though her figure is well disguised, we are still given a hint to her presence, whether it be through her hair or the whites of her eyes.  She is hidden in full view.  Blending in, yet waiting to be discovered.

Normally, this is where I would direct you to the artist’s website.  Cecilia Paredes does, indeed, have a website, but unfortunately, at the time of this posting, it doesn’t seem to be working.  You can find her on ArtNet or check out any number of reviews that come up on Google.  I found her via Lost at E Minor.

All images are via Cecilia Parades’ feature on My Modern Metropolis.