Explore the fragmentation of identity shap ed by immigration\, memory loss\, labor\, and bureaucratic control through Existence: Pending Approval. Developed over nearly a decade\, the artist& rsquo\;s search for selfhood materializes through documents\, found object s\, and personal artifacts that form a visual language of resistance again st systems of classification. As an immigrant in Miami\, artist Katherine &lsquo\;Neco&rsquo\; Kafruni challenges the reductive structures that atte mpt to define identity\, asserting a more complex and lived experience. Ex istence: Pending Approval takes shape with an immersive\, three-part insta llation structured around titled themes\, such as &lsquo\;The Child&rsquo\ ;\, &lsquo\;The Worker&rsquo\;\, and &lsquo\;The Adult&rsquo\;.
\nMe mory\, with its distortions and gaps\, serves as a foundation for the work . Early experiences of home and childhood exist in fragments&mdash\;some p reserved\, others blurred by time and trauma. Displacement and post-trauma tic stress disrupt access to the past\, leaving behind a fractured sense o f recollection. The works featured in this exhibit reflect this instabilit y\, using ephemeral materials\, fading imagery\, and delicate surfaces to evoke the shifting nature of memory.
\nExistence: Pending Approval e xamines the broader forces that dictate visibility and belonging. It expos es how immigrant labor is often depersonalized and how bureaucracy&mdash\; through identification documents\, temporary permits\, and renewal records &mdash\;turns one&rsquo\;s residence into an ongoing negotiation rather th an a guarantee of security. These artifacts are embedded\, layered\, and e ncased within the work and challenge the notion that existence must be pro ven through paperwork or labor\, instead demanding recognition of selfhood beyond institutional validation.
\nBringing together past\, present \, and the artist&rsquo\;s fragmented selves\, &lsquo\;The Adult&rsquo\; t heme of the exhibit represents a synthesis of loss and reclamation\, opaci ty and transparency\, memory and redefinition. In this final act\, Existen ce: Pending Approval pushes against the idea that identity is solely shape d by external forces\, instead asserting the power of self-definition.
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\nAbout the Artist
\nKatherine "Neco" Kafruni is a Miami-based Arab-Venezuelan multidisciplinary artist whose work explores identity\, self-acceptance\, and queer experiences through sculptural pai ntings\, street photography\, video art\, and printmaking. Their practice\ , often figurative and community-driven\, interweaves personal narratives with themes of visibility and connection within the queer community.
\nKafruni&rsquo\;s work has been recognized and awarded through various p latforms\, including the Fredric Snitzer Visual Arts Honors Program\, a mi cro-grant from Green Space Miami\, and the Artist as Catalyst Production I nternship from The Peace Studio. Their exhibitions were featured in Locust Projects\, Deering Estate\, Green Space Gallery\, and O Cinema Theater. I n 2024\, they curated Lost in Reverie: Tales from the Playground at the Ne w World School of the Arts&rsquo\; Gallery.
\nBeyond their studio pr actice\, Kafruni is deeply committed to arts education\, having taught at Paul L. Dunbar K-8 Center and worked with organizations such as Silent Vic tims of Crimes\, The Bass Museum STEAM+ program\, and Minds of Tomorrow. T hrough their residency with ProjectArt\, they have provided arts programmi ng for children\, fostering dialogue\, empathy\, and empowerment. Their wo rk creates spaces where individuals can see themselves reflected and affir med.
\nhttps://mdpls.libnet.info/event/13275582 URL;VALUE=URI:https://mdpls.libnet.info/event/13275582 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR