Stephani Trujillo and Talia Belen Laing in front of their collaborative pieces La Sangre Llama and Marinera skirt, 2024 – Ni de Aqui Ni de Alla (All images by Saranne Carrasco-Brennan)
Between 25th October and 3rd November, The Bridewell Gallery showcased Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá, an evocative exhibition by Latin American artists Talía Belen Laing and Stephanie Trujillo. Talía, a Peruvian-British artist, and Stephanie, a first-generation US-American German-Peruvian artist, brought a deeply personal perspective to the collection, exploring the complexities of identity, cultural belonging, and heritage—issues close to the hearts of many with multicultural backgrounds. The exhibition’s title, which translates to “neither from here nor there,” encapsulates the artists’ shared sense of being connected yet distanced from their origins, a sentiment that permeates their lives as individuals who straddle multiple cultures and identities.
A fundamental aspect of the exhibition was the importance of family and the deeply personal connections both artists maintain with their heritage. The rooms in Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá were intimate spaces filled with symbolic elements, such as family photos and representations of spirituality, highlighting the themes of memory, faith, and the blending of indigenous and Catholic traditions. Stephanie described one room, filled with family photos and the symbol of the chakana, as embodying “layers of memory and faith.” This symbol of Andean spirituality, central to her work, represented a worldview that connects the personal with the universal, a way of bridging the individual and collective aspects of identity.
Stephanie explained that the title Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá perfectly mirrored her own struggles with identity: “It’s a common sentiment. You don’t really know where you’re from, even if you’re in Latin America, but then being outside of it, then you’re even more, questioning your identity and belonging to the community.” This sense of in-betweenness—the duality of being both rooted and rootless—resonated deeply with both artists, who expressed similar journeys of self-definition and belonging. Talía, who spent her childhood moving from Uganda to Mozambique to Sudan with only occasional visits to Peru and England, admitted that when asked, “Where are you from?” the question was “triggering” for her, loaded with the complexities of identity.
Centre of La Chakana, Stephanie Trujillo, 2024 – Ni de Aqui Ni de Alla
One piece in the exhibition—a photograph of two chairs positioned back-to-back—symbolised this experience of harmony and difference, unity and separation. Stephanie explained, “It’s like, same, same, but different. We’re coming together, but we’re different at the same time.” This image echoed the delicate balance of shared heritage and individual uniqueness, underscoring the feeling of holding multiple cultural threads woven together yet distinct.
Ballena (Whale) part of the Nazca Lines series, Stephani Trujillo, 2024
Through art, Talía and Stephanie tackled difficult social issues such as colourism and internalised racism, particularly within Latin American cultures. They highlighted the importance of bringing these challenges into conversation, not only as individuals with mixed identities but as part of a broader community grappling with historical and cultural complexities. Craft and textiles—a central medium in Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá—played a vital role in representing these identities. Traditionally seen as secondary in the art world, these crafts were celebrated here, demonstrating their enduring relevance in contemporary art and their significance as vehicles for cultural expression.
For both Talía and Stephanie, reconnecting with their roots has been a profound journey, and Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá beautifully encapsulates this process. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on their own cultural identities, offering each piece as a bridge between worlds—a shared narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Through a tapestry of heritage, memory, and the ongoing dialogue between past and present, Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá creates an immersive experience that asks, in the most intimate way, what it truly means to belong.
Marinera Skirt – Talia Belen Laing, 2024, Ni de Aqui Ni de Alla
