Narrative

One day, my father heard a noise coming from his backyard. It sounded like a whistle, and it startled him because he was the only one at his house. He went outside and walked around this huge mesquite tree he had. Walking in circles, trying to figure out where this recurring whistle came from, something landed on his head. He rushed back inside to look in a mirror and saw a strange green bird with a red dot on both sides of his head. That was the day I met Tuki. 

He mysteriously showed up at a time when my life was filled with chaos. I was crossing the border every day, back and forth, to attend school in the US while living in Mexico. I had to adapt to a different environment and learn a new language. There were issues at home, and everything was constantly changing except for one thing… Tuki.

In the midst of all the uncertainty, he remained a constant. He was the one thing that didn’t change while everything else was in flux. Looking back, his presence kept me sane and brought me hope. I felt connected to this bird, and he inspired faith in me that all this turbulence was soon going to pass. He was with me through the darkest and hardest times of my life. Until one day, just as he mysteriously came, he left. I never witnessed his birth nor his death, and through my paintings I decided to immortalize him as a messenger of hope. Bringing to others the same faith he inspired in me, with the intention to provide his presence to those who need it.  

It is through him that I speak of everything my work is about: Faith, connection to nature, and identity. Tuki embodies the essence of my art and with this exhibition I want to give him a proper birth. One that captures the beauty and magic I saw in him. 

-Fernando Cabrera Gonzalez