ARROZ CON POPOTE
The Arroz con Popote series utilizes rice and straws as a queer medium, an innovation introduced into the art world by Vicente. In Mexican slang, the phrase "arroz con popote" is associated with male homosexuality, referring to the act of eating rice pudding through a straw, with or without offense: Andy Warhol likes arroz con popote.
The series pays homage to Vicente's Mexican roots, while addressing contemporary themes through a queer-cultural lens, in the form of installation, performance, and digital art. The work aims to promote understanding and acceptance, contributing to the creation of a more inclusive society.
Arroz con Popote was inspired by the work of Cuban artist Félix González-Torres, and began in Vicente's apartment kitchen in West Philadelphia. First as dyed rice in mason jars, with the photograph EEUU (2018) exhibited at the National Liberty Museum. He quickly turned to installation and performance art, gaining recognition for his rainbow installation, Logros (2019), which appeared on Visit Philadelphia. His first performance piece, EEUU (2019), was shown internationally, earning him the Best Dance Film award from the 1st Annual Bump’n’Grind Film and Performance Fest in Toronto, Canada.
This body of work propelled him to New York City as a Social Justice and Activism Artist-in-Residence at the World Trade Center. It was during this time that he taught himself how to use 3D programming software like Blender to produce digital works, giving rise to the Beating Hearts collection. Beating Hearts are part of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) collection. They have been shown at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, are currently beating at Philadelphia's City Hall through January 12th, and will be shown at NFT.NYC 2024.