Omar Fidel Garcia

b. 1993

Lives and works between Mexico and New York

2021 - 2023 MFA Yale School of Art

Marks of the Mental, 2022

Naked body, molasses, clear plastic sheeting, blue drip tray for hazardous waste, breath

The documentation of the performance presents a conceptual researching methodology that delves into exploring the intersection between psychology and the physical body. By covering my brown body entirely with molasses and subsequently making a print of it onto plastic sheeting, I engage in a process that transcends mere representation, instead offering a profound exploration of inner experiences.

This methodology challenges traditional approaches to psychological inquiry by employing the body as both subject and medium. Through the act of covering oneself in molasses—a substance symbolizing the weight of internal struggles, emotions, and memories—I metaphorically externalize the intangible aspects of the psyche. The resulting imprints on the plastic sheeting serve as tangible artifacts, capturing the embodied reflections of my inner world.

Additionallly, the endurance and duration of the process significantly contribute to the transformative nature of the artwork. Spanning over six months, the performance involves the continuous addition and removal of elements, serving as offerings to the evolving narrative of my internal journey. This extended duration ritualizes the body print as a site of death and rebirth, symbolizing the cyclical nature of personal transformation and growth

Installation view, Performance Excerpt
Yale School of Art, Sculpture Studio 413 (36 Edgewood Av, New Haven, CT)
April 27, 2022