ARTIST STATEMENT

Duneska Suannette’s goal is to address how ones upbringing can have both detrimental, as well as positive impacts on one’s understanding of self. Through her pieces Suannette gives a glimpse into the psyches of people of color who are either in focus, or being spoken about, whether or not it be herself, co-collaborators, or models. Suannette also uses bold, yet simple line work, and strokes, to keep the focus on the subjects whose definitions of home shape who they are as individuals. 

 

Home is generally defined as the place in which one lives, but through her own experiences Suannette was able to understand the word in a different context. Living in Dominican Republic for the earlier years of her life, to then moving to Washington Heights, going to boarding school in Connecticut, and then returning back to New York City Suannette was able to see home through a different lens. To Suannette home is defined as the environment in which one feels most comfortable, whether it be a person, place, or thing, is not of significance.  Suannette hopes that through her pieces the viewer can not only see that, but really feel connected to the person the pieces are shaped around, because isn’t that where empathy stems from?