Me White Gold

​

Me White Gold is a work that challenges the stereotypes Colombians often face abroad—especially those shaped by media portrayals that reduce our identity to drug trafficking and cocaine. Through a symbolic self-portrait, I present an alter ego filled with icons tied to this distorted image: pistols inspired by drug lord Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha (crossed in the style of the Meissen logo), a hippopotamus, a unicorn (references to Pablo Escobar), and Our Lady of Miracles, to whom hitmen would pray.

Motorcycles, flashy outfits, and extravagant jewelry complete an aesthetic that echoes the narco culture of the 1980s and the current fashion of urban musicians like reggaetón artists. In Colombia during the '80s and '90s, it was nearly impossible to remain untouched by the drug trade—whether as a victim or a beneficiary. My family founded a porcelain factory during that era, and porcelain became a material linked to drug lords seeking to legitimize their social status—creating a symbolic link between porcelain and cocaine.

The title reflects this duality: for a German, “white gold” refers to the purity of porcelain; for a Colombian, it evokes violence, cocaine, and blood. That’s why this sculpture had to be made in porcelain—not only for its aesthetic and symbolic weight, but also because of its personal and cultural history. Me White Gold invites viewers to reflect on stereotypes, the value of materials, and how they shape our perception of art.

​

Photographer: David Torres

​

​