Artist Reveals the Reality of those Usually Unheard

 Artist Reveals the Reality of those Usually Unheard 

By: Emily Kim


Originally born in Anaheim, California, artist William Camargo is a photo-based artist, community archivist, advocate, and educator. His works focus on identity, culture, assimilation, immigration, and the history of his community, among other social themes. 

In an artist lecture organized by the Chaffey College’s Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art Home Edition on February 25, 2021, Camargo talked about his work goals. He addressed rampant problems like white supremacy, especially in his hometown, and how it impacts the communities of color. 


Being in a city with a forgotten racist history, Anaheim continues to be a dangerous location for people of color. Camargo addresses this problem and tries to call attention to it through his photo-works, such as Damn! Four of Them Got Elected? (2020), which depicts the artist holding up a sign that gives the context of Anaheim’s racist history and the prevalent problems it causes for Camargo and his community. 

Damn! Four of Them Got Elected? (2020). The work showcases the written message:  “In 1924 four klan members were elected to the anaheim city council”. 


Camargo relates this racist history to today, connecting the past to the present through contemporary artwork. We learn about how, even now, white supremacy is still being used as a tool for de facto segregation as well as the disempowerment of Brown people. This negative environment caused many issues for Camargo, from how racism robbed him and his community of opportunities and forced assimilations to imitate whiteness. 


Camargo explained how he wanted to have a smaller nose, and less indigenous features. In this photo, Trynna Get Rid of My Aztec Nose (2019), a simple gesture portrays a strong message: of how the pressure and negativity of society (not only from white people but from his own community) can cause damages to one’s sense of heritage and identity. 

Trynna Get Rid of My Aztec Nose (2019). In the photo, Camargo’s friend is standing as a model.


Camargo reveals prevalent problems that are often unspoken by calling attention to the unheard voices of Brown people. Camargo’s position as the Commissioner of Heritage of Culture helps him to advocate for his community as well as others, opposing the social constructs that were created from racist ideologies. 


The artist lecture, organized by the Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art HOME EDITION, can be found here: https://youtu.be/orV6i0oCHs8 


You can see more of William Camargo’s works here: http://www.williamcamargo.com/ 

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