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Interpretation/Analysis

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Interpretation and Analysis Of The Artwork

Luis Del Valle's "The Missing Laborer" fits a clear and unmistakeable dynamic. In his early career, he was a graffiti artist, and has implemented those skills into this art piece, and reflects everything he as acquired through art, and continues to use these skills in modern work. He used many elements in the art piece to send a clear message to the audience and how immigration detentions are affecting various groups of people and communities.

In addition to the elements in the piece, Luis Del Valle's art also connects to Rob Nixon's work of "Slow Violence,' which means harm that is delayed and dispersed all around. For example, artists use visual and narrative forms in art to make invisible crises visible, build empathy, and challenge the media's focus on spectacular events, thereby urging reforms and political change to resolve the issues being addressed through art. In this case, Luis's art of an immigrant worker who is missing comes to show how immigration detentions are negatively impacting communities in DC and causing family separation.

The piece also connects to W.E.B. DuBois because in his work "The Souls of Black Folks," it explores themes like "double consciousness, the metaphorical "veil," Black Identity, and the struggle against racism that visualize DuBois's concepts for new generation. "The Missing Laborer" effectively conveys racism happening in these times because ICE specifically targets Hispanics even if they have committed no crimes, and their families get separated through the mass detentions that are taking place currently.

Through this important art piece, Luis Del Valle is trying to convey that political reform is needed in DC to combat family separation due to the immigration detentions. Although it is a slow act of harm, the impact is immense in the community, and just like Nixon's work, the problem is being dispersed around DC and around the country. At the same time, his work is conveying that racism is still taking place and impacting Hispanics negatively because they are the main targets for ICE and they are being stripped away from their families. This art piece conveys these important message, and serves to warn people of these detentions and to condemn these unfair and racist detentions happening in DC and throughout the country.

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