// RODRIGUEZ MINI FOOD MART,
2001
Packaging
material, refuse, glue, acrylic paint
11,8 x 15,75 x 11,8 in
A model of a small Mexican food shop somewhere in Chicago,
this work shows a miniature of US-American everyday life.
In contrast to the sparkling facades of the First World in
downtown Chicago, the less well-to-do neighbourhoods of the
city are characterised by improvisation, loving
do-it-yourself work, and the local colour of the countries
of origin of the immigrants who live there. Entering a
shop, you are plunged into another, personal world. Many of
the goods on offer are imported articles. The mixture of
products seems like a contribution to the creation of
identity in a new home country, and at the same time the
numerous offers for telephone cards permitting cheap
long-distance calls point to strong ties with home. The
piece owes its inspiration to the attractiveness of
everyday design and to the attention to small details and
the endearingly provisional nature of the Mexican
neighbourhoods. The entire model was built from packaging
materials and other refuse collected in Chicago. //
© 2008 Leonie Weber // leonie (at) leonieweber.net