her,” Erick explains. “Some others are connected to palm trees so you could meditate under the trees.” These rituals of meditation and prayer are often practiced in pri- vate since Spanish conquistadors initially forbade them. But Elliot and Erick hope their show can dispel suspicions and mistrust of the reli- gion, which has surrounded the faith with a negative stigma. “The Spanish found it comical that Yorubans were worshiping the saints so much more passionately than they were to God, like in Ca- tholicism,” Elliot says. “They think something bad will happen to you like they’ll do voodoo or black magic on you, but I think we’re trying to show that Lucumí can honestly be a positive thing.” By third grade, the brothers knew their involvement in both fashion and Santería would set them apart, but not always in a good way. While most students were perfecting their multiplication tables, Erick and Elliot could read their friend’s full astrology charts based on the exact time and coordinates of their birth — a skill that could take even a mathematician years to acquire. “We would go to third grade with an astrology book like weirdos, and people were like, ‘What are these people doing?’ Like we used to do the math to find people’s rising signs and sort of have a feel for who they are. It’s really based on the time, latitude, and longitude of where and when you were born,” Elliot says. “That determines where the planets were aligned or positioned, and then it’s spread into the chart.” Growing up, their mom encouraged similar astrology rituals. Still, they credit much of their spiritual upbringing to their Afro-Cuban abuela, Norma Salgado, now 83, who practiced Lucumí and looked af- ter the twins when their mom left. “We didn’t have the easiest childhood, so when you’re in a situation like that, you kind of turn to faith to have something to believe in,” El- liot says. “Our mom considered herself atheist, but we would have to go out on certain full moons to collect energy and even go out when there were certain comets flying by.” This powerful energy shines bright, quite literally, through each Elliot (left) and Erick Jiménez’s work explores Lucumí’s mix of Roman Catholicism and Yoruba culture. model’s glossy eyes. Using a manual photographic technique inspired by Cuban artist Belki Ayón, Elliot and Erick shot and layered multiple images to create deep contrasts in exposure. One of the exhibit’s 14 pieces, titled Ibejí (meaning “divine twins” in Yoruba), embraces this technique as the brothers wear matching pow- erful black bodysuits with dainty white collar guards. This gender- ambiguous attire highlights a spectrum of energies and strengths unique to Lucumí saints throughout the show. “Stories and practices will vary depending on the person practicing it,” Erick says. “So the techniques and emotion put into this are our visual interpretation of the religion, but of course, we invite everyone to come and understand it in their own way, and maybe even want to learn more.” “Entre Dos Mundos.” On view through Thursday, June 30, at Spinello Projects, 2930 NW Seventh Ave., Miami; spinelloprojects.com. Admission is free. [email protected] Photos courtesy of Spinello Projects 7 7 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | miaminewtimes.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | MIAMI NEW TIMES NEW TIMES MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 MAY 26 - JUNE 1, 2022
