Truisms of a 20 Year Old

Truisms of a 20-Year-Old is a multi-iteration series. The project began as an artist book produced in the fall of 2023, made with handwritten text, colored plastic sheets, and printed black and white original photos. Since then, a video and four painted works have been added to the collection.

Conceptually, the series as a whole draws inspiration from the Truisms (1977) produced by contemporary neo-conceptual artist and writer Jenny Holzer. Holzer's collection of maxims, which express various viewpoints and aroused a wide variety of emotions in her audience, served as inspiration for artist Alissa Pradera. Mirroring Holzer’s use of language and simple compositions, Pradera created her own aphorisms that summarize several “truths” she has discovered in the 20 years of her life thus far. Her body of work includes a unique touch by using imagery and her physical self as the subject.

In her painting iterations, Pradera used oil paints, cellophane, and clear acrylic sheets etched with text using laser-cutting processes. She painted self-taken photographs, thus honing her abilities to illustrate human figures and blend flesh tones. Each painting has a direct connection to a particular trauma or memorable moment from her life, which ties in with the audacious statement that is associated with each piece. Medical traumas, relationship-based heartbreak, personal battles with cultural identity, and the difficulties of dating as a curvaceous woman are the four key themes that underpin her works. Pradera’s aphorisms were then etched using a laser-cutter, and the acrylic was fastened to the top of each painting. The use of acrylic created a link to the series' initial creation as an artist book and its usage of plastic sheets. The layer of etched text rests on top of the painting, much like a contact lens sits on top of a cornea, requiring spectators to peer around and through the text in order to see the painted image that lies beneath it. This is related to the observation that because of our strong feelings of hope, love, or desire, people frequently choose to ignore the obvious signs, cautions, and facts that are put in front of them, regardless of how damaging or unpleasant the end result maybe.

Pradera wants her work to serve as a global bridge. Her goal is to bring attention to the harsh realities that affect a great number of people and are frequently a part of the human experience, but are rarely spoken. She hopes her younger audiences understand that they are not alone in experiencing such circumstances, and that these realities are just a natural part of growing up.